CornBelters Turn Tables on Slammers with Walk-Off Win
July 10, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
NORMAL, Ill. - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, battled back from a four-run deficit and walked off with a 7-6 win over the Joliet Slammers on Thursday night at the Corn Crib.
The Slammers took a 2-0 lead on the first three pitches of the game off Belters starter Chris Carmain, as Marquis Riley and Chris Epps hit back-to-back home runs to right field to lead off the contest. Joliet added a run in the second inning when Jose Garcia led off with a single, went to second on a wild pitch and third on a fielder's choice, then scored when a relay home after a failed double play went wide to push the visitors' lead to 3-0.
The CornBelters dented the scoreboard in the second inning when Aaron Dudley led off with a base hit, took second on a wild pitch and third on a fielder's choice, then scored on a passed ball.
Joliet got the run back in the third inning when Grant DeBruin hit a first-pitch, two-out home run to right field for the third long ball of the game and a 4-1 lead.
The Belters compressed the deficit to 4-2 in the third inning when Jhiomar Veras led off with a single, was balked to second and scored on a Santiago Chirino double to the right field bullpen.
The Slammers increased the score to 6-2 in the seventh inning on a two-run drive to the corn in right field on the second home run of the night by Riley and the fourth long ball by the Slammers.
Normal answered with a pair of runs in their seventh when Pat McKenna led off with a single and moved to second when Ozney Guillen was hit by a pitch, then scored on a wild pitch. Mike Schwartz drove in Guillen with a two-out single up the middle. Veras and Sam Judah drove balls to the warning track in the frame, but both were caught to hold the Belters rally to two runs.
The Belters tied the game at 6-6 in the eighth inning when a two-out fly ball at the left center warning track was dropped, scoring Richard Lucas and Tyler Shover, who had reached via singles.
The CornBelters flared two hits to walk off with the win in the ninth as Schwartz hit a double that dropped in between fielders in left to lead off, and Judah broke his bat with a shallow right field hit that allowed Schwartz to come across the plate with the victory.
Charley Short (5-0) pitched the ninth and received the win while Sam Moore (1-3) took the loss.
The CornBelters visit Traverse City for a three-game weekend series before entering the Frontier League All-Star break. The Belters resume play next Friday, July 18 at the Corn Crib against the Frontier Greys, beginning a nine-game home stand.
THE NIBLET : Mini-Plan Packages for the 2014 season are currently on sale! To purchase Mini-Plan Package tickets, or for more information, please contact the CornBelters today at (309) 454-2255 (BALL) or stop by The Mid-Illini Credit Union Box Office at The Corn Crib during normal business hours.
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