Loves Parks, Il. – The Rockford Rivets struggled against the Wisconsin Woodchucks on Thursday night and lost by a score of 14-2.
The Woodchucks put up five runs in the first inning and kept the runs going throughout the game against the Rivets pitchers. They also managed to score in six of nine innings and finish the game with 12 total hits.
Rivet’s Manager Brian Smith talked about the success the Woodchucks have had against the Rivets so far this season.
“Some teams just have your number and it seems like they always have ours,” Smith said. “They always come in and throw well against us and swing well against us and sometimes that’s just how it goes.”
Rockford scored in both the first and second inning, including a home run courtesy of designated hitter Cade Bunnell. This was Bunnell’s second home run of the year and second in the month of July. He and left fielder Brock Martin picked up both RBI’s for Rockford on Thursday.
For the second consecutive game, Bunnell was the only Rivet to finish with two hits, while the rest of the team combined for just four hits on Thursday night.
Luke Anderson made his second start on the mound for Rockford this season. He went just two innings while allowing five earned runs. JT Baksha, Hunter Kiem, Cade Bunnell and Cory Wright came in for relief to finish out the game for Rockford.
Wright was the only one to not allow an earned run and Rivet’s Manager Brian Smith said that he will be an important part of the team moving forward.
“I’m glad Cory Wright was able to come in and throw strikes,” Smith said. “He’s going to be huge for us offensively and on the mound. We are just trying to get him comfortable so when we do need him in a big game he will be there for us.”
This was Rockford’s third loss in a row, but Smith said that he will continue to stay optimistic as they enter the second half of the season.
“This is our first three game losing streak of the season,” Smith said. “Playing 37 games without a three gamer isn’t the worst thing in the world.”
The Rivets look to bounce back tomorrow at home against the Battle Creek Bombers at 6:35 pm.
The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rockfordrivets.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rivets as your favorite team.
