Chicago Ill.- June 2- After an electric start to their second game of the season, the MCL Minutemen (0-2) lost to the Chicago American Giants (1-1) in blowout fashion, 17-6.

The Minutemen started out red hot, carrying their batting over from the night before. They went up 4-0 after the first inning, and showed no signs of slowing down. Jason Daniels (Waubonsee/ Hammond, Ind.) and Jim Mundo (Carthage/ Palos Heights, Ill.) led off with base hits, allowing Brennan Brogni (Illinois Springfield/ Flagstaff, Ariz.) to smack the ball out to center field to score the runners on base. Shortly after, Gabe Cortez (Prairie State/ Tinley Park, Ill.) poked the ball into the outfield, and Brogni scored. The Minutemen were up 3-0 after their first five batters. Another run came later when Cortez stepped on home plate. 

A great start at the mound from Ethen Otstott (Prairie State/ Oak Forest, Ill.) helped keep the momentum as he didn’t allow a batter on base for the first two innings, struck out two batters, and allowed only 6 hits in four innings he pitched.

From then on, it was a back and forth affair. In the third inning, the American Giants put up three runs, and the Minutemen scored one more, leaving the score at 5-3. After a run a piece in the fifth, the American Giants went on a scoring tear that would seal the deal.

In the sixth inning, they scored four runs, and then in the seventh, they put seven more on the scoreboard. The Giants were able to load the bases on three different occasions with only one out to their name. Every ball they hit went deep into the outfield which allowed for runners at second and third to come home. They followed that up in the eighth with another run. The Minutemen’s pitching down the stretch was no match for the Giants ability to connect on most pitches, and not swing on balls the pitchers were throwing. 

Minutemen manager Deandre Gilmore believes the team’s pitching has to improve for next game in order to compete. 

“Pitching is the most important part of the game, and you have to throw strikes,” he said, “If we’re around the plate, we’re in the game.”

The Minutemen will have another shot at the American Giants tomorrow at Gouwens Park at 7:05 pm. Follow @MCLMinutemen on Facebook to catch the live stream, and follow @MclMinutemen on Twitter to keep up with the latest Minutemen news.