Joliet sweeps Schaumburg Boomers

The Schaumburg Boomers allowed 6 runs in the second inning Sunday in a 6-3 loss to the Windy City ThunderBolts to cap the first home series of the season.

Schaumburg opened a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Jordan Dean and Dusty Robinson singled before Paul Kronenfeld drove in Dean with the opening run with a single. Starter Brett Mabry retired the first two batters in the top of the second before Windy City strung together 6 hits for the 6 runs. The Boomers battled within 6-3 in the seventh. Mark Nelson lifted a sacrifice fly to score Dean while Robinson hit an RBI single.

Schaumburg finished with 10 hits. Robinson had 3 for a second straight game. Josh Gardiner and Dean each collected a pair of hits, with Gardiner, signed Friday, reaching three times. Mabry suffered the loss, working 6 innings with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. Derek DeYoung pitched 2 scoreless innings, and Dexter Price also threw a scoreless inning.

The Boomers have lost a franchise-record seven straight games. All nine games to open the season have been decided by 3 runs or fewer.

Following an off-day Monday, the Boomers, celebrating the fifth season in franchise history, will have a franchise first with a split home and home doubleheader against the Joliet Slammers. The first game is at 11 a.m. in Schaumburg with the nightcap at 7:05 p.m. in Joliet.