Flyers outlast JackHammers
Published on July 11, 2009 under Northern League (NL)
Schaumburg Flyers News Release
JOLIET, IL - A four-hour, forty-one-minute marathon ended in the 14th inning with a 4-2 Flyers win Saturday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.
Travis Ezi had the go-ahead hit for the Flyers against Joliet reliever Chad Blackwell, driving in Richard Mercado who had led off the 14th with a walk. Travis Brown doubled down the right field line to plate Ezi and bring the game to its final score.
Schaumburg got on the board in the first thanks to the legs of Ezi. After reaching on a throwing error to lead off the game, Ezi stole both second and third then scored on a Brown single just by a diving shortstop. Jose Valdez followed with a single to put runners on first and second with nobody out, but Joliet starter Jason Richardson sat the next three Flyers down in order to escape without further damage.
Joliet tied the game at 1-1 in the second when Tydus Meadows led off with a double and scored on a one out Freddie Thon single. Andrew Pinckney would give the Hammers a 2-1 lead with a towering solo homer an inning later.
The Hammers would hold that lead into the eighth. After Ezi grounded out to start the inning against reliever Ryan Paul, Brown knocked a single to right then stole second. Victor Ferrante came up with two outs and drove in Brown with a double to tie the game at 2.
Joliet had a golden opportunity to win the game in bottom of the ninth against reliever Jeff Dunbar. Kevin Rios and Brad Correll hit back-to-back singles to start the inning and moved to second and third on a Pinckney sacrifice bunt. With one out and the winning run 90 feet away, Meadows chopped one to third. Vince Harrison fielded and threw home to Richard Mercado, who applied the tag to Rios. Dunbar then got Phil Avlas to fly out to left to escape and send the game into extras.
Both teams had opportunities in extras. The Flyers best chance in extras before the 14th came in the twelfth when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Victor Ferrante grounded out weakly to second on the first pitch of the AB to end the inning.
Joliet stranded a remarkable 17 runners, including two in the 14th. Freddie Thon bounced out to first with runners at the corners to end the marathon.
One night after notching the first four-hit game of his career, Travis Brown did it again, going 4-7 with two RBI and a run scored. Thon led the way for the JackHammers, going 4-7 as well.
Alain Quijano allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings and took the no-decision. Richardson gave up just one run on six hits over six innings pitched and also received no-decision. The win went to Tom Lyons (2-3), who pitched the 13th and 14th, while Blackwell (1-2) was charged with the loss.
RHP Ed Almonte (4-4, 4.62) takes the mound for Schaumburg, opposed by Joliet's RHP Derek Barrows (1-0, 4.50) in Sunday's series finale, beginning at 5:05.
Northern League Stories from July 11, 2009
- Flyers outlast JackHammers - Schaumburg Flyers
- Team Record Eight Doubles Propel T-Bones to 13-0 Win - Kansas City Monarchs
- RailCats Win Fourth in a Row, Blast Goldeyes - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Goldeyes Fall to Gary - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Strap on your bowling shoes with the JackHammers - Joliet JackHammers
- RailCats Open Second Half With 15-Inning Win in Winnipeg - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Goldeyes Fall Late in Series Opener - Winnipeg Goldeyes
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