JackHammers fall in 11
June 1, 2005 - Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
Edmonton, Alberta CanadaâFor just the second time this year, the Joliet JackHammers would play a extra inning contest. Interestingly enough, both have come on the current Canadian road trip against Calgary and Edmonton. Just a few nights ago it was Joliet winning it in the 11th on a Jim Kavourias home run against Calgary. On Tuesday night however, the hero would be wearing Edmonton's white and blue. Kyle Leon singled home the game winning run in the 11th off of relief pitcher Joey Siak to send the JackHammers into their first two game losing slide of the season.
Stubby Clapp doubled for the second straight night in leading off the 1st inning for Edmonton, and would be driven home by Chris Becker to give the Cracker Cats the early lead. It stayed 1-0 until the 4th, when Joliet chased Cracker Cats starter Ira Brown with a four run frame, keyed by a Jim Kavourias two-run double. It was the fifth straight game in which Jim had doubled.
Edmonton would respond against Joliet starter Mike Wodnicki in the bottom of the 4th, as they pounded out three hits in the inning, including back to back doubles to score a total of three runs and tie the contest at 4-4 after four innings of play. Derek Patterson had the big hit of the inning, a two run scoring double to right center field.
The Cracker Cats took the lead in the 5th, thanks to a one out triple from Clapp, he would come into score on the sacrifice fly of Ricky Magdaleno to make it 5-4 Edmonton.
By this point in the game, both teams were now in their bullpens and what a night it was for left-hander Aric Von Gaalen. Vol Gaalen would pitch 3 1/3 innings, scattering three hits and not allowing a run. He was aided by some tremendous defense and a little luck. In his three full innings of work, he coaxed a double play ball in each inning to thwart the Joliet rally attempt.
The game would head into the top of the 9th, with Edmonton on top 5-4 and that's where things got interesting. Jeff Isom sent in his only pinch hitter available, outfielder Kyle Logan who had been mired in a 2-23 (.086) slump. Logan jumped on the first pitch he saw from lefty-reliever Trey Poland and hit a game tying home run in the 9th to tie the game at five.
Reliever Amad Stephens who had earlier worked the 8th inning would have an adventurous 9th, allowing a one out broken bat single, followed by a gapper that put them at 1st and 3rd base with only one out. Kyle Leon was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Stephens got Darin Kinsolving to fly to right and struck out Chris Hall the send it to the 10th, and stranding the bases loaded.
Both teams would go 1-2-3 in the 10th, setting the stage for the drama of the 11th. Edmonton got a lead-off single from Jeremy Ware on a line drive comebacker, that at the last moment popped out of Joliet reliever Joey Siak's glove. The bunt single and groundouts that followed moved Ware all the way to 3re base, and on a 3-2 pitch, Kyle Leon sent a bouncer up the middle to secure the 6-5 win for Edmonton.
The win give the Cracker Cats their first three game winning streak of the season, and also sends Joliet to their first two game losing streak of the year.
Jim Harrison (1-1) gets the win in relief while Joey Siak (0-1) was hit with his first decision of the season.
Joliet will try and rebound tomorrow and avoid the sweep, sending right-hander Nathan Kent to the hill. Edmonton will go with a left-hander in Avilez.
Loose gravel: The JackHammers lost for the 1st time this season when wearing their orange jerseys. They also for the first time this season have now lost back to back games and are in danger of their first sweeping of the season. The JackHammers are now 3-2 in games in which they homer, but have now lost their second such game in a row.
Joliet finishes up the month of May, going 6-6, falling to 17-21 all time. The loss also assures the JackHammers of the first series loss of the season, having already lost the first two games of a three game set.
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Northern League Stories from June 1, 2005
- Canaries and Vipers Suspended - Calgary Vipers
- RailCats Win, Club is Again Alone in First Place - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Boughner blanks Winnipeg - Schaumburg Flyers
- Explorers Top RedHawks 6-3 - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Canaries and Vipers Rained Out - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Gulledge placed on inactive list, RedHawks sign two - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Saints sign fleet outfielder - St. Paul Saints
- Vipers snap losing streak - Calgary Vipers
- JackHammers fall in 11 - Joliet JackHammers
- Leon gives Cracker-Cats extra-inning victory - Edmonton Capitals
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