JackHammers lose 4-2 in Edmonton; remain in first place by a half game
August 23, 2006 - Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA-The Edmonton Cracker-Cats scored four runs over the first three innings to beat the Joliet JackHammers 4-2 at TELUS Field on Wednesday night. With the JackHammers loss and loses by Kansas City and Gary, the Joliet (20-19) maintains it's one-half game lead over Gary and one and one-half game lead over Kansas City for first place in the Northern League East Division.
Edmonton scored two runs in the first inning off of Joliet starter Derell McCall (5-4). With two runners in scoring position, Greg Morrison (1-4) hit a two-run double to make it 2-0 Edmonton.
Former JackHammer Kyle Nichols (2-4) hit a two-run home run against McCall in the third inning. Nichols took McCall deep for his sixth home run as a member of Edmonton and his 15th home run in 2006. The Cracker-Cats had a 4-0 lead after three innings.
Joliet got its first hit of the game against Edmonton starter Mike Henry (5-1) in the fifth inning. Maikel Jova (2-4) led off with a single against Henry, who had previously walked three men.
Henry went the distance, pitching the full nine innings and allowing two runs on four hits.
The JackHammers scored their first run of the game in the sixth inning. Chris Brown (0-4) reached base on an error when he hit a ground ball beneath the glove of Edmonton third baseman Ashley Freeman. He was retired at second to allow John Lackaff (0-4) to reach first base on a fielder's choice. Lackaff went to second on a walk by Jose Amado (0-3). He scored when Rob Stratton (1-3) hit an RBI single to centerfield. The JackHammers got on the board at 4-1.
Joliet pushed one more run across home plate in the seventh inning. Jova led off the inning with a double and scored on an RBI single by Blake Gill (1-4). The JackHammers got within two runs at 4-2.
McCall pitched six innings and allowed four runs on 10 hits to suffer the loss. He did not walk a man and struck out four.
Loose Gravel: Mike Goss missed the game with a strained groin muscle. He re-aggravated the injury in the third inning of game one of Tuesday's doubleheader. Goss did not play in game two of the doubleheader and sat out Wednesday, as Chris Brown hit in the leadoff spot.
The JackHammers take Thursday off before starting a three-game series at Schaumburg. The action kicks off with a 6:45 first pitch. The pre-game show begins at 6:30 with Jon Versteeg and Bryan Dolgin online at www.jackhammerbaseball.com. Matt Smith (5-3, 3.81) gets the ball for Joliet.
The JackHammers return home on August 29 to take on the Kansas City T-Bones at 6:05. Don't miss the race for the Northern League East Division crown! The JackHammers entertain the T-Bones for three games before the Schaumburg Flyers come to town over Labor Day weekend. Wednesday August 30 it's First Midwest Bank Ty Beanie Baby giveaway to the first 1,000 fans. For tickets, give the JackHammers a call at (815) 726-BALL (2255), go online to www.jackhammerbaseball.com, or visit the Silver Cross Field ticket office during normal business hours.
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Northern League Stories from August 23, 2006
- JackHammers lose 4-2 in Edmonton; remain in first place by a half game - Joliet JackHammers
- RailCats lose to Winnipeg, remain one half game out of first place - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Henry throws complete game four hitter in win - Edmonton Capitals
- Vipers get early lead, hold on to win - Calgary Vipers
- T-Bones set new attendance mark - Kansas City Monarchs
- Sosebee, Hurba boost T-Bones offense in 9-4 victory - Kansas City Monarchs
- Seventh inning slam dooms Flyers, losing streak now at 11 - Schaumburg Flyers
- Early deficit costs Fargo-Moorhead game - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Goldeyes looking to break some records this weekend - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- RedHawks take down Vipers, 7-1 - Calgary Vipers
- JackHammers split doubleheader in Edmonton Tuesday - Joliet JackHammers
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