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The ThunderBolts (23-21) missed out on several offensive chances early as they loaded the bases with one out in the first but didn’t score. They left eight men on base through the first five innings.

Joliet (26-18) got on the board in the bottom of the third. Clay Chapman had retired six of the first seven batters of the night, but four in a row reached to start the third. Joe Staley hit a solo homer to make it 1-0. Phil Bates followed with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Charlie White’s base hit. A pickoff and a caught stealing helped Chapman out of the inning without any further damage.

Chapman settled in after the third and was never seriously threatened again.

Ransom LaLonde doubled to lead off the ThunderBolts half of the sixth. Kyle Wood followed with his first home run as a professional to tie the score at two.

In the seventh inning, Coco Johnson led off with a walk and Corey Bass was hit by a pitch to put two men on with no outs. They were still at first and second, though, with two outs as LaLonde came through with an RBI single to give the Bolts a 3-2 lead.

Chapman (5-2) made it through eight innings, striking out a season-high seven, but was pulled after giving up a leadoff single in the ninth. Joel Lima came out of the bullpen and got a strikeout and a double play to notch his first save of the year.

Kaleb Ort (3-2) allowed two runs in five innings and took the loss.

The rubber match between the ThunderBolts and Slammers will take place Sunday afternoon at Silver Cross Field. Jake Fisher (4-2, 3.14) will get the start for the Bolts against Joliet’s Sean Townsley (3-4, 3.69). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.

Box Score