Anthony Rizzo on his single that played three and gave the LI Thunder an 8-4 lead. pic.twitter.com/CMBRbchLX2
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 12, 2018
The Long Island Thunder snapped a four game losing streak Tuesday evening, scoring 10 runs, the most they have scored all season, to beat the Long Island Sound.
After starting the season 6-1, the Sound have now lost three straight, scoring a combined six runs in the three defeats.
The Thunder’s bats started off hot, as they plated a pair in their first trip to the plate. Luke Scoggins and Mike Manetta drove in a run apiece to get the bats rolling.
Lorenzo Russo started for the Thunder and after sending the side down in order in order to start the game, he gave up a solo shot to Mike Wall. He then gave up a walk and a single and looked to be in trouble, but got out of the jam.
The Thunder would score once in the second and third to take a 4-1 lead into the top of the fourth.
With two on, Kieran Dowd laced one over the center fielder’s head to bring the Sound within one but was stranded at third.
Sound starter Joe Keller would give his offense a scoreless bottom of the fourth to give the Sound a chance to tie the game or take the lead the following inning.
The Sound did just that in the top of fifth, tying the game at four. Jordi Rodriguez grounded out with the bases loaded off new Thunder pitcher Sal Rizzo to tie it, but Rizzo was able to limit the damage.
Joe Geldmacker began the bottom of the fifth for the Sound and struggled to find the zone. A walk, hit by pitch, and wild pitch but runners on second and third and the Thunder retook the lead on a sacrifice fly.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Anthony Rizzo broke the game wide open with a bloop into right that cleared the bases.
“We got a two out walk the batter before me and I was just trying to be aggressive,” Rizzo said. “2-0, I got a pitch i could have hit but just blooped one to right and it was fortunate that it cleared the bases.”
In the bottom of the sixth, Manetta would drive in his second and third runs of the evening to give the Thunder some insurance.
Kieran McLaughlin sent the sound down in order in the top of the seventh to seal a much-needed 10-4 win for the Thunder.
