WOODSTOCK — The Bats defeated the Lightning, 2-0, on Sunday at Emricson Park behind the 3-hit pitching of Greg Kaczmarek. It was the second time the Bats defeated the Lightning this season as they evened their record at 3-3.
Kaczmarek tossed the complete game shutout needing just 76 pitches while striking out 6 with no walks. The Bats defense played another solid game behind him as the crafty right-hander induced 10 ground balls and the infield chipped in with 11 assists. In seven innings worked Kaczmarek faced just 24 batters, 3 over the minimum.
As good as the Bats pitching and defense was the Lightning’s counter punch was just as effective. John Moulchin started for the Lightning and turned in 3 shutout innings before leaving the mound with stiffness in his elbow. Moulchin allowed just one hit, a single by Matt Weiss, with 3 strikeouts in his stint before giving way to a reliever.
In the midst of the scoreless pitchers’ duel the Lightning showed the first signs of life in the third inning. After the inning's leadoff batter Tim Sullivan reached base on an errant throw the Lightning’s Tim Keefe hit what looked to be a double play ball to second baseman Rob Matassa. Matassa threw to shortstop Tom Klauba for the force out, but Klauba’s relay ended up in the Lightning dugout allowing Keefe to advance to second. A wild pitch to the next batter moved Keefe over to third with only one out. Kaczmarek proceeded to strikeout the last two batters but was aided by a run-saving block by Bats catcher Weiss on a pitch in the dirt preventing Keefe from giving the Lightning the lead.
With the score still tied, 0-0, the Bats missed by mere inches an opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth. With one out John Eisenmenger walked and stole second. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Eisenmenger was joined on the bases by Kaczmarek who also walked and promptly stole second putting both Bats runners in scoring position. Matassa then rocketed a line drive towards right field that had hit written all over it. But wait! The Lightning second baseman Moulchin, who moved there following his pitching chores, got just enough glove on it while leaping to his left to knock the ball down. Matassa was thrown out by a step preventing what would have been a 2-0 Bats lead.
Undaunted and untiring, Kaczmarek faced nine Lightning batters over the final three innings aided by a double play ball in the sixth to help maintain the shutout. In the meantime, the Bats came up with an improbable run in the bottom of the fifth inning after two were out with no one on base. Tom Paul, nursing an ailing right buttock, laced a two-out single to center field and was replaced on the base paths by courtesy runner extraordinaire, Mike Steffy.
Sporting an unusually long leadoff from first base, Steffy goaded the Lightning pitcher to fire over to first. The ball sailed past the first baseman and down the right field line as Steffy raced for second and continued on to third trying to beat the relay. In a cloud of dust from his slide into the bag, the ball skipped past the third baseman allowing Steffy to lumber home with the first run of the game — a 90-yard gallop forever etched into Bats lore.
The Bats added an insurance run in the sixth when Klauba and Eisenmenger opened the frame with back-to-back singles, Eisenmenger advancing to second on the throw into third base. With runners on second and third Weiss attempted to squeeze home a run with a bunt which the pitcher was able to grab and throw for the out first while holding the runners. The Lightning then decided to intentionally walk Kaczmarek to load the bases, but Klauba was able to trot home on a balk on the first pitch to the next batter making it 2-0.
Kaczmarek pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh to preserve the Bats first shutout of an opponent since June 19, 2004 — a stretch of 252 games.
The Bats next game will be at 1:15 PM on Sunday, June 6 against the Marauders at Tigers Field in Johnsburg, Ill. The Marauders defeated the Bats, 19-11, in their first matchup of the season.
BATS DROPPINGS
The Bats 3-3 record is their best start after 6 games since 2004 when they began the season with a record of 4-2 …. Earl Blankenship ran his consecutive games played streak to 54 games on Sunday. His current streak is the fifth longest in Bats history behind Don Gragnani (113), Ron Skrabacz (62), Tim Scotellaro (60) and Tony DiBlasi (58) …. The next longest active consecutive games streaks are owned by Mike Steffy with 29 and Tom Paul with 22 …. Rich Skibski saw his 15 consecutive game streak come to an end when he injured his ankle just hours before his son’s wedding last week. Skibski was running for exercise and trying to burn some last-minute calories to make more room for his tuxedo’s cumberbund … The Bats have now gone 138 straight games without a home run. The Bats last four-bagger was a first-inning grand-slam hit on August 21, 2011 by John Moulchin against the Cubs. Moulchin, currently with the Lightning, collected 9 RBI in that game (a Bats record).
