JackHammers fall 10-7
June 5, 2006 - Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
GARY, IN-The Joliet JackHammers jumped out to an early lead against the Gary Southshore RailCats but could not hold the lead as the JackHammers fell 10-7 on Monday night before 2,395 at U.S. Steel Yard.
Joliet scored two runs in the second inning off RailCats starting pitcher Josh Habel. Bubba Smith singled and went to second base on a single by Jayson Drobiak. Runners were at first and second with nobody out for Kyle Nichols.
Smith and Drobiak each moved up one base when Habel unleashed a wild pitch. Nichols had runners at second and third and capitalized by lacing a two-run single to give the JackHammers a 2-0 lead.
Gary started their scoring in the second inning, scoring an unearned run off Roger Luque. Tanner Townsend walked and stole second base He went to third base on a single by Chris Curry and scored when the throw by Joliet second baseman Chad Ehrnsberger sailed wide of the first baseman Jayson Drobiak. The lead was 2-1 after two innings.
Mike Goss led off the inning with a single and went to second on a wild pitch by Habel. Goss advanced to third base on a single by John Lackaff. Chad Ehrnsberger walked to load the bases. Bubba Smith popped out and then Jayson Drobiak drove a hanging changeup over the right-field wall for a grand slam home run. Drobiak's grand slam home run gave Joliet a 6-1 lead.
Gary scored five runs in the third inning against Roger Luque to tie the game at 6-6. In the fourth inning, the RailCats scored one more run off Luque. The former JackHammer Jermaine Allensworth walked with two outs in the inning and Tanner Townsend hit an RBI triple to score Allensworth and make the score 7-6 Gary.
Luque tossed six innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits. He walked three and struck out five.
The JackHammers tied the game in the eighth inning with a solo home run by Greg Stephens, his first home run of the year.
The home run came off of Jeremy Schmidt, who pitched one inning and allowed one run on one hit. Schmidt ended up getting the win when the RailCats rallied for three runs in the seventh inning off the newest JackHammers reliever Eric Fussell.
Fussell, who was signed to a contract before the game, came into the game in the seventh inning to relieve Luque. Fussell retired the RailCats in order in the seventh inning. He got the first out in the eighth inning before surrendering a one-out double to Chris Curry. He moved up to third on a single by Alex Taylor. Both Taylor and Curry scored on a two-run double by Eric McNamee. The Gary second baseman came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Steve Haake, which ended the scoring at 10-7.
Fussell takes the loss (0-1) after pitching two innings and allowing three runs in two innings pitched.
Loose Gravel: The JackHammers signed right-handed pitcher Eric Fussell before the game. Fussell will work out of the bullpen for the JackHammers. He was 3-3 with a 2.37 E.R.A. for Division II St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, IN this past spring. The JackHammers continue their series with the RailCats Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m. Brad Morenko (1-2, 3.26) gets the start for Joliet against the former JackHammers Jason Shelley (1-2, 4.76). Pre-game coverage begins at 10:45 on 1340 WJOL.
Northern League Stories from June 5, 2006
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- RedHawks claim best record in Northern League with 9-7 win - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Rain Monday... T-Bones Play Two Tuesday - Kansas City Monarchs
- JackHammers fall 10-7 - Joliet JackHammers
- RailCats battle back from big deficit, beat Joliet - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- RailCats to Host Softball Clinic - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Another first for Jimmy Hurst - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Veteran Maxwell added to Goldeyes roster - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Goldeyes fall to Edmonton - Winnipeg Goldeyes
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