Paints Win In Alton, Take Lead In Best-of-Three PLCS

(Photo by Emma Johnson)

Recap courtesy of the Chillicothe Paints:

ALTON, Ill. - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by Adena Health System, took a one-game-to-none lead in the best-of-three Prospect League Championship Series Thursday night at Lloyd Hopkins Field, beating the Alton River Dragons 5-3.

Santrel Farmer doubled with one out in the first inning, then Tim Orr launched a towering home run on the next pitch, putting the Paints in from 2-0 just three batters into the ballgame.

Chillicothe starting pitcher Gunnar Boehm put together an impressive performance, striking out the first three River Dragons hitters and not allowing a run until the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth, Blake Burris singled with one out, stealing second a few pitches later. Eddie King, Jr. singled to right, scoring Burris, putting Alton on the board and cutting the Paints' lead to 2-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, Alton got back-to-back-to-back two-out singles from Cameron Hailstone, Bryce Zupan and Ethan Kleinheider, the latter a bang-bang play at first that Kleinheider beat out with a head-first dive, scoring Hailstone and tying the game at 2-2 heading to the eighth.

Brady Salzman took over on the mound for Alton Starter Karen Reardon, who allowed just two runs on six hits a walk and two strikeouts over seven innings. Salzman immediately got into trouble. Brett Carson reached to lead off the inning, thanks to a wide throw from the Alton second baseman. Carson then advanced on a passed ball. Farmer walked and Tim Orr reached on a fielder's choice, putting runners at the corners with one down. Tommy Thamann followed with a double to right, scoring Carson and putting the Paints back in from at 3-2. Salzman intentionally walked Nate Dorinsky to load the bases, then gave way to Alex Redman. After a strikeout for out number two, Mike Sprockett, with two strikes, hit one off the end of the bat for a seeing-eye infield single  toward second base, scoring Orr and Thamann, extending the Chillicothe lead to 5-2.

Boehm retired the River Dragons in order in the bottom of the eighth. He then came out to start the ninth, giving up a solo home run to Eric Broekemeier, cutting It to a 5-3 ballgame. Boehm exited the game, having allowed three runs on nine hits, walking none and striking out four. Cal McAninch took over, striking out the next two hitters. He got Zupan to fly out to centerfield to end the ballgame. Boehm (3-3) earned the win and McAninch took the save, his second of the year.

Salzman took the loss, allowing three unearned runs on one hit and two walks. 

After a travel day Friday, the series now shifts to Chillicothe's VA Memorial Stadium, where the Paints and River Dragons play game two Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available at ChillicothePaints.com.