CornBelters triumph in 11 innings for 7th straight win

Posted on August 14, 2015

Pat McKenna homered and scored the winning run in the CornBelters’ 3-2 victory in 11 innings on Thursday at the Corn Crib. (Photo courtesy Normal CornBelters)

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters gave up the lead in the ninth inning but won their seventh straight game 3-2 in 11 innings over the Florence Freedom on Thursday night at the Corn Crib.

The Freedom put the first run on the board in the second inning when Frazier Hall led off with a walk, went to third on a double and came across home plate on a fielder’s choice.

The Belters answered with a run of their own in the fourth inning when Pat McKenna hit his 19th home run of the year to center field and tie the game at 1-1.

Horacio Acosta came on in relief in the sixth inning for Belters starter Jake Negrete, who finished the night with five innings pitched, three hits, one walk and three strikeouts.

In the Belters half of the inning, Aaron Dudley hit a liner through the middle of field to bring in Mark Micowski on a single giving the Belters a 2-1 lead.

In the seventh inning, Seth Harvey came out for the Freedom starter Patrick McGrath after six innings with five hits, one home run, one walk and four strikeouts.

The Freedom (34-41) would not go quietly as Collins Cuthrell hit an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2 in the ninth inning, forcing extras.

The Belters prevailed, however, when with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, McKenna scored from third base on a ground ball hit to second with one out when the throw to try to start an inning-ending double play was wide.

The Belters remain on top of the Frontier League West Division by two games over Rockford and three games over River City. The Belters (43-31) return home on Friday night to begin a weekend series against the Washington Wild Things (41-55).  Right-hander Kevin Johnson (5-4, 3.84 ERA) starts for Normal while the Wild Things plan to start righty Jeremy Holcombe (1-1, 3.70). The Belters will wear special jerseys to be auctioned with proceeds going to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and CEFCU Fireworks Friday features a post-game sky show. First pitch is 6:35 p.m. with broadcast time on WEZC-FM 95.9 and WJBC.com at 6:20.

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