Except for the top of the third, Butler's pitchers did their part in helping the team try to halt the team's slide in Prospect League play.

But with the offense struggling to even mount a threat to score, that half inning proved to be the difference in the game.

Alex Dorethy's two-run homer highlighted Kokomo's four-run third frame in a 4-0 defeat of the BlueSox at Kelly Automotive Park Friday night.

The loss dropped Butler to 3-10 on the year. The Sox have lost seven of their last eight games.

“Jace (Warkentien, Butler's starting pitcher) did a good job early, but ran into some trouble,” said Sox manager Cody Herald. “Our bullpen came in and kept the score where it was. But to me, the turning point in the game came in the first inning.”

Warkentien had worked a perfect top of the first and the Sox appeared ready to break the ice when Andrew Chuba led off the bottom of the inning with a single and took second base when the ball was misplayed in the outfield.

Kokomo pitcher Chandler Coates struck out Chris Law and induced Kellen Sarver to pop out. With two outs, Chuba stole third base and Colton Carney drew a walk, but was caught in his attempt to steal second moments later.

“A runner on second and no outs. You score a run there, it puts pressure on the other team's offense and the pitcher,” said Herald. “We had no timely hits tonight.”

Make that just four hits total and none after the fifth inning. Coates worked six innings to earn the win, striking out four and walking three. He allowed a pair of two-out singles to Kristian Webb and Chuba in the bottom of the fifth, but both were stranded.

“I don't think Chandler had his best stuff tonight, but he competed and did a good job of throwing strikes,” said Kokomo manager Gary McClure. “Our pitching has been pretty good all year.”

“We realize that some guys are trying to work on specific things (with longer at-bats) this summer,” said Herald. “But in a wooden bat league, you are sometimes only going to see one good pitch and a lot of times, that will be the first pitch of an at-bat.”

The decisive top of the third inning began with Warkentien's free pass to Ellison Hanna, who then stole second base and scored on a single from Ben Brooks.

Three batters later, Brooks scored on Ian Walters' groundout and Dorethy capped the inning's scoring with his blast over the wall in right field.

It was the outfielder's second home run of the season. He is now batting .440.

“Alex can hit the ball out of the ball park, for sure,” McClure said, “but besides that, he's really been hitting the ball well.”

Jarod Deagan, Sean Kealey and Wyatt Daugherty all came out of the bullpen and kept the Jackrabbits (6-5) off the scoreboard over the final five innings.

Daugherty, a Butler High product, struck out two in the top of the ninth inning.

Kokomo's Payton Lannon and Nick Alvarado finished the shutout by blanking the Sox over the final three frames.

Butler will look to salvage a split of the two-game series Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. start.

Kokomo 004 000 000 — 4 5 2

Butler 000 000 000 — 0 4 1

W: Chandler Coates 6 IP (4K, 3BB). L: Jace Warkentien 4 IP (1K, 3BB).

Kokomo (6-5): Ian Walters 1B RBI, Alex Dorethy HR 2RBI, Ellison Hanna 1B R, Ben Brooks 1B R RBI

Butler (3-10): Andrew Chuba 2-1B, Mike McGee 1B, Kristian Webb 1B

Saturday: Kokomo at Butler