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Patrick Bellinger threw six gritty shutout innings as the DuPage County Hounds stole a run from the Joliet Admirals, winning 1-0 in a Wednesday morning thriller at a sold-out Dog Pound.

Bellinger allowed baserunners in all six innings but surrendered no runs, finishing with a line of seven hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. His already-stellar ERA dropped to 0.33.

The Hounds only managed an unearned run off Joliet starter Ryan Van Volkenburg, who picked up the hard-luck loss after seven innings of four-hit ball. He walked one and struck out four on under 90 pitches.

DuPage County (16-3) broke through in the bottom of the 2^nd inning. Frankie Perrone reached on an error to lead off, and Richie Gorski’s double put runners on second and third. Adam Wilson grounded out to second base two batters later and Perrone scored the game’s only run.

Joliet (3-13) had their chances in the first six innings but were unable to capitalize against Bellinger. The Admirals stranded five men on base in the first six frames.

Chase Thurston relieved Bellinger in the 7^th and put together his finest outing of the year. Thurston tossed two perfect innings, striking out one in the 7^th and one in the 8^th.

In his first game on the active roster, left-handed reliever Nick Alfini came in to pitch the 9^th inning. The Downers Grove native, who transfers his glove to his left hand after every pitch, faced an immediate test as he snagged a Javier Martinez line drive for the first out.

After surrendering a one-out walk, Alfini gave the MCL a preview of things to come, striking out Jermaine Terry and Hunter Linton to earn the save. [Click here for the audio broadcast of the 9th inning]

Joliet’s top performers included Alec Barnhart, who doubled to lead off the 4^th inning, and Terry, whose diving catch in center field saved a run in the 7^th.

After an off day tomorrow, the Hounds hit the road for another six-game road trip, starting Friday night against the Northwest Indiana Oilmen. First pitch is at 7:10 from Oil City Stadium and will be broadcast on dupagehounds.com.