Stilts Dazzles, River Dragons Beat Paints 2-0 To Force Game Three

(Photo by Cory Hall)

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Alton starter Adam Stilts turned in an impressive performance, shutting down the Chillicothe offense in a 2-0 River Dragons win Saturday night at VA Memorial Stadium. The win knots the best-of-three series at a game apiece.

Stilts sat the Paints down in order in the first and second innings. The River Dragons broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third. After a leadoff walk, Bryce Zupan went first-to-third on a single by Ethan Kleinheider, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Mike Hampton, making it 1-0 Alton.

Stilts finally gave up a baserunner in the fourth, a two-out single by Tim Orr, but the righthander picked off the runner at first to end the inning.

After sitting down Chillicothe hitters in order in the fifth, Stilts walked Jake Reifsnyder with one out in the sixth, but after a strikeout for the second out, Stilts picked off Reifsnyder at first to end the inning and stay at the minimum through six.

The River Dragons got an insurance run in the seventh, Cameron Hailstone reached on an infield hit with one out, advancing to second on a walk. Because of the Prospect League's pitch count limits, Chillicothe starter Jake Norris exited the game. Ethan Kleinheider singled off new pitcher Gino Sabatine, loading the bases with one out. Hampton struck out for the second out and Blake Burris singled with two down, scoring Hailstone but Zupan was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Tommy Thamann, ending the inning with Alton up 2-0. Norris finished the game with an impressive stat line for the Paints, allowing just two runs on three hits, walking five and striking out three over 6 1/3 innings, but eventually took the loss for Chillicothe.

Stilts came back out for Alton, again sitting the Paints down in order in the seventh. In the eighth, after retiring the first two Chillicothe hitters, Stilts walked Mike Sprockett, an at bat that put the Alton pitcher up against the pitch limit, ending his night. Colton Huntt entered, giving up a single to Hunter Klotz. Reifsnyder then singled to center field, Sprockett tried to score from second, but was thrown out at the plate by Burris to end the inning, keeping the River Dragons on top at 2-0. Stilts finished the night having allowed no runs on just one hit, walking two and striking out six, eventually earning the win.

Huntt walked Gianni Passarelli to start the ninth, then struck out Brett Carson. Santrel Farmer followed with a single and then a balk moved him to second and Passarelli to third with one out. Orr and Thamann both went down swining, though, ending the game with the River Dragons in front 2-0. Huntt grabbed his second save of the season.

The deciding game three is slated for 6:05 p.m. EDT at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio.