Boomers edged by Gateway
The Schaumburg Boomers kicked off a big series against the team chasing them in the standings, the Gateway Grizzlies, but could not hold a pair of leads in suffering an 8-7 defeat Tuesday night at Wintrust Field.
The Boomers grabbed the lead behind a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Christian Fedko led off the game with a single and Chase Dawson followed with a double. Nick Podkul put the Boomers on the board with a sacrifice fly. Anthony Calarco followed with an RBI single. Gateway scored three times in the fourth to lead 3-2 but the Boomers quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Will Prater raked a single to score Banks Tolley.
Three runs scored in the bottom of the fifth to hand the Boomers a 6-3 edge. Dawson opened the inning with a solo homer to right. With runners at second and third, Tolley singled and Aaron Simmons followed with an RBI fielder’s choice. Gateway responded with two in the top of the sixth to draw within 6-5 before an RBI single from Tolley in the bottom of the inning made the score 7-5.
The visitors scored three runs in the seventh to take the lead and held on as the Boomers left the tying run at second in the ninth.
Cristian Lopez threw five innings in a no-decision, striking out six.