Joliet wins the series two games to one after Sunday's 5-4 Win
July 10, 2005 - Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
Joliet, IL- The Joliet JackHammers (23-25) went back to a familiar formula in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Schaumburg Flyers (16-32). That formula was get solid innings from Jason Shelley (5-5) early. Shelley accomplished that task with six and a third innings, allowing just two earned runs (four total) on six hits. The next part of the equation is get the ball to set up man Matt Petrusek who was sharp in his inning and two thirds of scoreless baseball. Amad Stephens completed the winning recipe by notching his seventh save of the season with a perfect ninth inning.
Jayson Drobiak hit his third home run in the last four games, as he connected for a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth inning, his team leading fourteenth long ball of the year. John Lackaff added a perfect 2-2 day at the plate including his twenty-third RBI of the season.
The JackHammers started the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, as Drobiak led off the frame with a double, and came in to score on a Matt McCay RBI bounce out to make it 1-0 Joliet.
That lead wouldn't last long however, as Schaumburg answered three runs in the third inning, highlighted by Ryan Walker's second homer of the series. Of the three Flyer's runs in the frame, only one was earned against Shelley.
Joliet plated a pair in the fourth and fifth innings to take the lead for good. Two straight two out hits by Lackaff and Dan Underwood evened the game a three apiece. The âHammers then took the lead on a Josh Loggins RBI single that was followed by the mammoth blast to right field off the bat of Drobiak.
Schaumburg would get to within a run with an Eric Cole RBI single in the seventh inning, but the combination of Petrusek and Stephens closed the deal and gave Joliet the win in the finale of the series and gave Joliet the series victory two games to one.
The series proved to be a very closely contested one, as the JackHammers won the opener by a 2-0 margin, but saw the Flyers respond with an 11-10 wild win on Saturday night to square the series. Each game in the match-up was decided by two or fewer runs.
Schaumburg was led offensively by utility man Nelson Gord, who's 2-4 night included a pair of runs scored. The loss meanwhile was tagged to reliever Blake Williams (0-4), who went four innings, and allowed just two runs, but they turned out to be the deciding runs.
Loose gravel: Sunday's game was the final contest of the first half and left both teams ready for the start of the second half which kicks off on Tuesday. Joliet will begin that second half by welcoming to town the defending champions of not only the first half, but also the league, the St. Paul Saints. Left-hander Luis Villarreal (3-3) 4.60 ERA will get the start for Jeff Isom's JackHammers while it is to be announced who the Saints will toss on Tuesday.
With the strikeout of Ryan Walker, all 3,801 in attendance received a free game of bowling compliments of the Will County Bowling Proprietors. Also with the ten JackHammer strikeouts, all in attendance received a coupon for a free Frosty from Wendy's.
With the win, the JackHammers are now 6-2 on Sundays.
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Northern League Stories from July 10, 2005
- Flyers drop first half finale - Schaumburg Flyers
- 'Hawks close out first half with loss - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Joliet wins the series two games to one after Sunday's 5-4 Win - Joliet JackHammers
- RailCats lose first half finale - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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