[rink23]

Record: 8-4, 1st (Tied/w. Springfield), 1 GA Cedar Rapids
Konnor Pilkington took a shutout into deep the top of the eighth inning and Rockford hit home runs off St. Louis starter Argenis Batista in each of the first three innings as the Lightning rolled to an 8-1 win at RFK Stadium (1962).
With the victory, Rockford split the four-game series with St. Louis.

Pilkington (2-1) never gave up a run during his 7.2 innings, allowing just two hits before retiring after throwing 149 pitches.

Pilkington struck out 11 River Walkers and walked three.
For Batista, things did not go well for him from the get-go.
The third pitch he threw to Ezquiel Pagan traveled 415 feet over the fence in right-center field to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead.
In the second, Jake Holland mashed him for a 417 foot solo blast, making it 2-0.
The honors in the third went to Bobby Gulden, who plated three with his 407 footer.
Rockford chased Batista in the fourth, but it did not need a omer.
Gage Canning led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Pilkington.
A wild pitch with Pagan at the plate planted Canning at third.
Pagan then singled, making it 6-0 and sending Batista to the shower.
The Lightning added two more runs that inning against reliever Luis Palomo.
Drew Mendoza did the honors for both with a two-out double.
Trevor Groce got the final out of the eighth inning and the first two of the ninth for Rockford.
He also allowed an RBI single to Jared Thomas for the lone St. Louis run.
Shawn Semple retired the only batter he faced to end matters.