Fisher shuts out Joliet again with some help, 2-0
Published on September 4, 2005 under Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
Gary, IN- Cody Fisher (2-3) picked up just his second win of the season on Sunday at Gary's U.S. Steel Yard. After pitching a complete game shutout against Joliet on August 26 for his first win of the year, Fisher went seven scoreless on Sunday as he and his RailCat teammates out of the pen combined for another complete game shutout of the Joliet JackHammers (13-35, 36-60) 2-0 in a game that took just two hours and eleven minutes to play.
The win gives Gary (27-21, 54-42) the exact record they had in the first half of the season, finishing eighteen games above the .500 mark.
The game was a pitchers duel for the first six innings as neither team could must any offense through six.
JackHammers starter Rich Hyde, making just his second start of the season after recovering from off season shoulder surgery, would leave the game in the bottom of the third, favoring his right elbow. Rich allowed only one hit in the seven batters he faced, a fly ball hit to left field that Matt McCay lost in the sun.
Taking his place would be right-hander Nathan Kent who threw the next three and a third innings scoreless, allowing just two hits. Kent however would get the tough luck loss to fall to 3-11.
The game would be decided in the bottom of the seventh, as Gary got the lead off man aboard on a bloop single to right field off the bat of Fehlandt Lentini. John Schmitz would then hit a liner back up the middle that struck Kent's elbow, forcing the pitcher to the ground in pain on the infield single. A few warm up pitches later, Kent was fine. After a deep fly ball put the runners at first and third with nobody out, Jose Yepez hit an inside-out double down the third base line with the infield drawn in to plate the game's first run. The final run would come on a Tanner Townsend sacrifice fly to push home Schmitz.
Travis Kerber pitched the ninth, for his second save of the season.
The JackHammers were held to just four hits in the game, none past the fourth inning. The team got a double from Josh Loggins and Eric Blakeley, as well as a pair of singles from Jose Amado. The RailCats meanwhile only had six hits, three of which were doubles.
Loose Gravel: Gary starter Cody Fisher threw just three pitches in the top of the second inning. Jose Amado singled, Matt McCay lined out and Jayson Drobiak hit into a double play, all on the first pitch of their at bats. That was the only time this year that a JackHammer or their opponent had accomplished such a feat.
The JackHammers finish with a road record of 15-33
The final batter of the 2005 season was Matt McCay, who had two at-bats resulting in blistering line outs. McCay would fly out to right field to end the season.
The loss is the team's fifth in a row, and the three game sweep by Gary marks the eighth time this season that Joliet has been swept. Entering this season, the JackHammers had only been swept four times in a three game series in the previous three years.
Northern League Stories from September 4, 2005
- Two in eighth put T-Bones away for winter, 6-5 - Kansas City Monarchs
- Flyers rally, come up short in finale - Schaumburg Flyers
- Saltdogs finish the 2005 regular season with a 5-4 loss to the Explorers - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Railcats finish season as second half co-champions of the Northern League - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Fisher shuts out Joliet again with some help, 2-0 - Joliet JackHammers
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