The first day game in franchise history on Tuesday at Windy City produced an unforgettable contest as the Boomers and ThunderBolts didn’t want the contest to end. Over four and a half hours later Windy City handed Schaumburg its first loss in franchise history by a 2-1 score in 15 innings. The teams combined to used 14 pitchers (Nine from Windy City, including Thursday’s scheduled starter), throw 446 pitches, post 99 at bats, leave 25 on base, and tally a combined batting average of .161 in a pitcher’s duel from start to finish.

Neither team scored a run until the 15th after the second when Windy City’s Chad Cregar homered. Starting pitcher Robbie Penny threw seven innings and allowed only one run for the Boomers. The Boomers were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position while Windy City finished 1-for-9. Schaumburg did not trail all season until the game winning run crossed in the bottom of the 15th. The Boomers were either ahead or tied for 41.1 innings to begin the franchise.

Remarkably while Windy City used eight relief pitchers, the Boomers used just four after Penny. None of the first three relievers featuring Thomas Nelson, Alex Thieroff, and Patrick Mincey, allowed a baserunner in four innings of work with Mincey throwing two perfect frames. Joe Parsons tossed 3.1 innings, the longest outing of the season for a reliever, and continually worked out of trouble before the 15th. The Schaumburg pitching staff struck out 11 while the hitters drew 10 walks, were hit three times, and struck out 10 times.

The crazy thing? There are still two more games in the series with Windy City, continuing tonight at Standard Bank Stadium. LHP Andy Weeks (0-0, 0.00) will attempt to follow in the footsteps of the first four starters in the Schaumburg rotation who have given up a combined total of three runs. The last three pitchers have all thrown quality starts with yesterday’s outing by Penny the longest so far this season at seven innings. Windy City will counter with RHP Dustin Williams (0-1, 3.60), who starts for the second time.

First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. The broadcast begins at 6:45 p.m. with the Boomer Batter-Up Show.