Flyers Out Last Joliet
July 10, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
JOLIET, IL-The Schaumburg Flyers (23-23) scored three runs in the 4th inning to take a 4-2 lead in a game they hung on to win 5-4 over the Joliet JackHammers (19-31) before 2,836 fans at Silver Cross Field on Friday night.
The JackHammers started the scoring in the 2nd inning on a sacrifice fly from 2B Isaac Omura (1-4). DH Tydus Meadows (1-4) singled and moved to second base when RF Wally Backman, Jr. (2-3) was hit by a pitch. A walk to C Phil Avlas (1-3) loaded the bases.
Omura's sacrifice fly to left field scored Meadows for a 1-0 Joliet lead.
The Flyers tied the game at 1-1 on a wild pitch from Joliet LHP Ryan Gehring (3-4). LF Jeff Dunbar (1-2) worked a one-out walk and moved to second base on a single by SS Travis Brown (4-4). A walk to CF Travis Ezi (2-3) loaded the bases. In the at-bat of 2B Jose Valdez (0-5), a ball skipped to the backstop that allowed Dunbar to score to tie the game.
The JackHammers scored a run in the 3rd inning when LF Brad Correll (1-5) led off with a double and scored on a single by Backman, Jr. Joliet took a 2-1 lead.
The Flyers scored three runs in the 4th inning to take a 4-2 lead. 1B Craig Maddox (2-4) hit a one-out double. The JackHammers intentionally walked DH Felix Jose (0-3) to face C Richard Mercado (0-3), who flew out to left field. Dunbar continued the inning singling and scoring Maddox to tie the game. A two-run triple by Brown gave the Flyers a 4-2 lead.
Joliet added another run in the 4th inning to get as close at 4-3. Omura led off the inning with a single. Klein reached base on an error and SS Kevin Rios (2-4) loaded the bases by reaching on a fielder's choice. Correll grounded into a double play to score Brown from third base to get the JackHammers within one run at 4-3.
The Flyers added a run in the 7th inning to take a 5-3 lead. Brown led off the inning and stole second base. CF Travis Ezi (2-3) singled him over to third base and Brown scored on a groundout by Valdez for a two-run lead.
The JackHammers scored a single run in the 8th inning. Avlas led off the inning with an infield single and moved to second base on a throwing error. Omura reached base on another error and Avlas scampered to third base. Klein reached base on a fielder's choice that allowed Avlas to score for a 5-3 lead.
Joliet had a chance to tie the game in the 9th inning. Correll crushed a ball to center field. Schaumburg Ezi made a leaping catch over the outfield wall to steal a home run away. Meadows hit a towering fly ball to the warning track in center field for the final out of the game.
Loose Gravel: The JackHammers made a roster move before the game, agreeing to terms with RHP Brian Reith. The Fort Wayne, IN native spent parts of three seasons with the Cincinnati Reds (2001, 2003-2004) and most recently has pitched in both independent baseball and Mexico. To make room for him on the active roster, Joliet released IF/OF Gary Harris.
Reith started the season with Quintana Roo of the Mexican League and appeared in six games. He spent the last two seasons with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League, including a 5-4 record with a 3.94 ERA in 41 appearances in 2008.
Working primarily out of the bullpen in his time in the Major Leagues, Reith has a 4-12 lifetime record with a 5.92 career ERA. In 2003, Reith logged his best year with a 2-3 record and a 4.11 ERA.
Northern League Stories from July 10, 2009
- Kansas City Takes Slugfest, 16-7 - Kansas City Monarchs
- Flyers Squeak by Hammers - Schaumburg Flyers
- Flyers Out Last Joliet - Joliet JackHammers
- Four-Run Ninth Downs Kansas City - Kansas City Monarchs
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