FL Joliet Slammers

Extra Innings Not Kind to Slammers

Published on July 20, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


(Crestwood, IL) - Zach Aakhus lined a shot off the center field wall in the 10 th inning to win the game for the Windy City ThunderBolts (28-26) by a final score of 4-3, spoiling what had been a dramatic comeback by the Joliet Slammers (30-23) Wednesday night.

The Slammers fell into a 3-0 hole in the game. Windy City struck first against Slammers starter Billy Petrick as they pushed across a run in the third inning. With one out, Brandon Anderson bunted his way to first. He would steal second and score on a bloop single from Mike Torres.

They'd get two insurance runs the very next inning. With one away Chad Creagar reached on an infield single. Billy Nowlin followed with a single of his own. Chris Wade doubled in Creagar and former Slammer Lee Rubin drove in Nowlin with a sacrifice fly to make the score 3-0.

But the comeback kids did not back down from Windy City starter Matt Jernstad. Brad Netzel singled with one out in the sixth inning. Erik Lis drew a walk and David Fox singled home Netzel to cut the deficit to 3-1. However the Slammers couldn't get Lis or Fox in as they left two stranded in the inning. They left eight men on base in the game.

Petrick pitched admirably for Joliet as he went seven innings, giving up three runs on eight hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out five.

The offense finally came to life in the ninth against Windy City closer Wes Alsup. Kyle Maunus got things started with a single and Sean Estand drew a walk. A Kris Kasarjian grounder moved both runners to scoring position. But Ben Hewett struck out leaving it up to pinch hitter Trey Manz.

Down to the team's final strike, Manz delivered a clutch two-RBI single to tie the game at three.

Unfortunately the defensive shuffling the Slammers did in the game came back to kill them in the tenth. Reliever Brian Smith had pitched flawlessly since entering in the eighth inning, but gave up a one out single to Chase Porch. Porch immediately stole second base. After Brandon Anderson was hit by a pitch, Jeremy Tietze entered the game. He got Mike Torres to hit a grounder back to the mound. They got the runner at second base, but runners were now at the corners with two outs.

With two strikes on him, Aakhus hit a high fly ball to right field in foul territory. David Fox, usually the team's left fielder had moved to right when Kasarjian had entered the game for Bobby Leeper. Normally Josh Flores would have been out there but he had shifted to center after Leeper left the game. Fox ended up dropping the ball and giving Aakhus new life.

The ThunderBolts' leading hitter took full advantage as he lined the next pitch he saw off the center field wall to end the Slammers' six game road winning streak.

Joliet is now 1.5 games ahead of the Traverse City Beach Bums in the East Division. They start a three game series with the Lake Erie Crushers at Silver Cross Field Thursday night. Ryne Miller will take the hill for Joliet. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Central Time.

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Frontier League Stories from July 20, 2011


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