By WJBC Staff
NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters extended their winning streak to a franchise record 10 on Sunday afternoon in a 5-4 win in 10 innings at the Corn Crib over the Washington Wild Things.
Washington took an early lead in the first inning loading up the bases and then bringing in Andrew Heck on an error to make the score 1-0.
The Belters tied the score at 1-1 in the third inning when Jim Vahalik led off with a double and scored on a ground out from Santiago Chrino.
The Belters broke the tie in the fifth inning when Vahalik hit an RBI single to bring in Ozney Guillen. Vahalik later came home on an error and pushed the Belters to a 3-1 lead.
The Wild Things tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh on RBI singles from Maxx Garrett and Heck as Belters starter Chris Carmain allowed four straight hits after retiring 19 straight.
Wild Things starter Ernesto Zaragoza was relieved by Matt Purnell in the seventh inning. Zaragoza threw six and one-third innings while allowing six hits, walking two and striking out two with two earned runs.
Belters starter Chris Carmain was relieved by Horacio Acosta in the eighth inning. Carmain threw seven innings with six hits, one walk and struck out ten with two earned runs.
The Belters retook the lead in the eighth inning when Vahalik hit an RBI single to drive in Sam Judah pushing the score to 4-3.
In the ninth inning, Maxx Garrett hit an RBI double to bring in David Popkins and tie the game at 4-4 for their second two-out game-tying rally, taking the contest to extra innings.
The Belters scored the winning run when Cameron Monger reached base on a wild pitch on his third strike, stole second, went to third on a fielder’s choice and came home on the walk-off single from Ozney Guillen just inside the third base bag to give the Belters the 5-4 win.
Belters reliever Cole Brocker (4-1) earned the win in his two innings of work while Wild Things reliever Jonathan Kountis (2-3) took the loss.
The West Division-leading Belters (47-31) travel to Ohio to face off with the Lake Erie Crushers (33-43) on Tuesday. The Belters will send righty Robert Baroniel (2-2, 3.56 ERA) to the bump while the Crushers will have righty Brad Duffy (7-3, 3.29).
