The Battle Creek Bombers defeated the Rockford Rivets 7-5 Monday night, sweeping the two-game series. With the win, the Bombers improve to 22-20 on the year and 4-2 in the second half of the season.
The Bombers took the early lead. With one out in the first inning, second baseman Jarrod Watkins and third baseman Ryan Dorow each walked. Left fielder Daniel Jipping followed with a ground-rule double, scoring Watkins and advancing Dorow to third, giving the Bombers the 1-0 lead. Catcher Jacob Blunt followed by grounding out to second base, scoring Dorow and giving the Bombers the 2-0 lead.
The Rivers retaliated in the second inning by hitting a two-run homerun to tie the game. The game stayed a 2-2 tie until the bottom of the sixth inning.
Jacob Blunt led off with a walk, and then center fielder Dean Miller was hit by a pitch. After Cody Sporrer struck out, Christian Helsel flew out to center field, advancing Blunt to second. First baseman Nick Podkul followed with a double, scoring Blunt and Miller, giving the Bombers the 4-2 lead. Shortstop Daniel Patzlaff followed with a single, scoring Podkul and giving the Bombers the 5-2 lead.
The Rivets bounced back in the top of the seventh inning and managed to tie the game at five. With two out in the bottom of the inning, Dean Miller hit a single, then Cody Sporrer hit a homerun over the left field wall to give the Bombers the 7-5 lead, which would be the final score of the game.
Bombers starting pitcher Tommy Parson took another no decision against Rockford. He went 6.1 innings and allowed five runs on six hits. He did not allow a walk and he struck out eight batters, which is the second most on the season for him.
The Bombers now head out on a six-game road trip before the All-Star break, starting with a two-game series against the Wisconsin Woodchucks Tuesday night at 7:35/6:35 Central.