Hernandez Powers Grizzlies to Series Victory
May 20, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
SAUGET, Ill. - Gateway catcher Landon Hernandez put on an offensive clinic Sunday afternoon at GCS Ballpark, powering a pair of two-run homers past a stunned Joliet Slammers squad to help deliver a decisive 8-0 series winner.
No bat in the Frontier League is hotter than that of Hernandez who is hitting a blistering .600 through three games and ten at bats. The 6'1 230 pounder rocked Slammer starter Jeremy Tietze in the afternoon showcase, posting a 3-for-3 effort at the plate with six RBI, two runs, and a walk.
"The work that I put in during the offseason is paying off," mentioned the 25 year-old of his early season performance. "Playing year round and working on the different elements of my game is very important to me, and I feel good."
In all, Hernandez finished the three-game series against Joliet with a team leading six hits in ten chances with two doubles, two homers, four runs, seven RBI, and two walks. Hernandez wasn't the only one contributing in Sunday's eight-run, ten hit pounding of the Slammers, as both smooth swinging first baseman Jerod Yakubik and starlet John Shelby fueled their strong numbers. Yakubik raked in two RBI in a 2-for-4 showing and teammate Shelby finished 1-for-2 in the box with two runs scored.
"I'm not used to swinging out of the five spot," joked the Byesville, Ohio product Yakubik. "I have hit in the two all of my life, but I am happy to be contributing and driving in runs when we need them. Plus, to do it against the champs feels good too."
Yakubik wasn't the only Grizzlie to mention the importance of taking two-of-three from the Frontier League titleholders, Gateway starter and Sunday's winning pitcher Alex Kaminsky commented on the magnitude of the series.
"This was huge for us as a club, and will give us some confidence out of the gate," said the intimidating righty. "Tomorrow will be fun traveling as a unit and relaxing a little bit. Maybe watch a movie or two."
Don't let Kaminsky's lax talk fool you, the 6'2 hurler never takes a day off.
"I was told at a very young age that if you were the first to show up and the last to leave that good things would always follow you. I guess it paid off today."
And paid off it did. Kaminsky went five strong innings and allowed only three runs on four hits with on walk and six strikeouts to help pace the Grizzlies to the winning margin.
Gateway (2-1) will hit the road for a six game road trip starting Tuesday at Washington, Pennsylvania.
Frontier League Stories from May 20, 2012
- Evansville Strikes out 17 Batters in 10 Inning Loss - Evansville Otters
- Rippers Earn First Win - London Rippers
- Miners Lose Close One as London Gets First Win - Southern Illinois Miners
- CornBelters Game Suspended - Normal CornBelters
- Schaumburg Boomers Finish off Opening Weekend Sweep - Schaumburg Boomers
- Crushers swept by Boomers - Lake Erie Crushers
- Jim Jacquot's 9th Inning Walk off Two-Run Home Run Lifts Freedom Past Beach Bums 5-4 - Florence Y'alls
- Hernandez Powers Grizzlies to Series Victory - Gateway Grizzlies
- Slammers Drop First Series of 2012 - Joliet Slammers
- May 20 Joliet Slammers Game Notes - Joliet Slammers
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