\'Hammers Battery the Difference in 7-3 Victory Over \'Cats
September 3, 2010 - Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
JOLIET, IL - Bear Bay tossed seven scoreless innings and Richard Mercado knocked in five runs as the Joliet JackHammers (51-46) pulled back into a third place tie with the Gary SouthShore RailCats (51-46), taking a 7-3 decision Friday night in front of 3,385 fans at Silver Cross Field. Joliet improved to 6-5 again Gary with three games left in the battle for the 1-80 Trophy.
The JackHammers spotted Bear Bay (10-5) four runs in the bottom of the first. Jonathan Wyatt and Kevin Rios walked to start the frame with Brad Correll flying out to right field. Jon Nelson coaxed the third walk against Andy Weeks (1-2) to load the bases. Freddie Thon popped out in foul ground, but Richard Mercado followed with a two out grand slam over the wall in right center for the 4-0 cushion.
Mercado struck again in the third with two away, knocking home Correll with a single. Chris Colton put the âHammers out in front 6-0 with a double off the wall in left, plating Mercado from first.
Bay won his fourth straight and fifth consecutive decision for his tenth victory of the season. The right-hander scattered five hits in seven innings without allowing a run, tying a season high with nine strikeouts. Bay has now allowed only two earned runs with 35 strikeouts to only five walks in his last 28.1 innings.
The RailCats put three on the board in the eighth to cut the lead to 7-3. Louis Ott walked and Mike Reese lined a home run into the Bud Beach in right against Griffin Bailey. Chris Carrara followed with a double and was cut down on a fielder's choice by Adam Klein in a rundown between third and home. Tanner Townsend collected a run batted in with an infield single to plate Klein for the 7-3 score.
Weeks garnered the loss, working the first five frames for Gary. The rookie surrendered six runs on six hits with four walks, all in the first, and collected three strikeouts.
Mercado went 2-4 with the grand slam and five runs batted in. Colton knocked in a run with a double and walked three times.
The JackHammers and RailCats continue their four game series tomorrow night at Silver Cross Field. Nolan Nicholson (5-5) and Paul Fagan (0-0) is the starting pitching matchup. Game time is set for 7:10 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. pre-game show on 1340 WJOL.
Northern League Stories from September 3, 2010
- âHammers Battery the Difference in 7-3 Victory Over âCats - Joliet JackHammers
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- Kansas City Earns Victory in Completion of Suspended Game - Kansas City Monarchs
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