FL Joliet Slammers

Joliet Slammers Game Notes

Published on July 17, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


JOLIET SLAMMERS (27-22) vs. ROCKFORD RIVERHAWKS (23-27)

Sunday, July 17 - 6:05 p.m. CT

Silver Cross Field - Joliet, IL

Game #50 - Home Game #26 (27-22, 15-10)

RHP #39 TOMMY MENDOZA (1-1, 2.92 ERA) vs. LHP #20 CHRIS NYMAN (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Last Time Out...

An all-around sloppy game sent the Joliet Slammers to their third straight loss at home as they fell to the Rockford RiverHawks by a score of 7-5 Saturday night. The game turned ugly quickly, as the Slammers found themselves in a 5-0 hole after only one inning, due to multiple defensive errors and a confusing fielders' interference call. Despite the first inning debacle, the Slammers came back with three runs in the second inning to cut the lead to 5-3. But that was as close as Joliet would get as Rockford got insurance runs in the fourth and the seventh. Moss took the loss as he went five innings, giving up six runs, but only two earned. Joliet did get a couple more runs in the game to bring the final score to 7-5, and even brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but couldn't manage to come up with the big hit. Joliet looks to salvage the finale of the series in tonight's 6:05 start.

For Starters...

Tommy Mendoza is coming off his first loss of the season when Southern Illinois beat the Slammers by a score of 10-4 on July 7. Mendoza went 4.1 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits. He made his first start of the year against Rockford back on June 27. In that outing he got a no-decision as he went three innings, giving up one run on three hits. Mendoza was a 5th round draft pick of the Angels in 2005. He has a career ERA of 3.97 over six minor league seasons. The right-handed pitcher rose to the Triple-A level at the age of 21 in 2009. He was 7-7 with a 3.36 ERA for Double-A Arkansas and was named a Texas League All Star before earning the promotion to Salt Lake. With the Bees he went 2-1 with a 2.91 ERA. Mendoza suffered from multiple injuries in 2010 which only allowed him to pitch in 10 games. He spent of the off-season rehabbing a partially torn labrum.

Scenario...

Although the Slammers as a team have struggled to produce with runners in scoring position this season, there have been a few players who have consistently produced in the clutch. With a RBI on the line, Erik Lis, David Fox, and Brad Netzel are the men to have at the plate. Lis is currently hitting .322 with runners in scoring position, to go along with a team-leading 26 RBIs in such situations. In 25 AB's with runners in scoring position during his first professional season, David Fox has 12 hits and 18 RBI. Brad Netzel has also been very good in the clutch as he is hitting .359 in 39 AB's with runners in scoring position.

Hometown Woes...

After winning three straight games at Normal before the All-Star break, the Slammers have dropped the first two games at home against Rockford. The two losses match the Slammers' longest home losing streak of the season at three games. The Slammers look to bust that streak in tonight's finale.

In the finale...

The Slammers are 7-8 in series finales this season. They have only been swept once at home, against Florence earlier in the year.

Crossing the plate...

Kyle Maunus has scored at least 1 run in 5 straight games despite only tallying 2 hits during that time.

Run Flores, run!

Josh Flores has 20 stolen bases this year, more than the rest of the active Slammers combined (19).

MVP!

Erik Lis started at first base for the East Division in the Frontier League All-Star Game on Wednesday and took home the MVP award as the East won 4-2. Lis hit a two-RBI triple in the first inning and would come around to score. He added a single later in the game as he went 2-3. Lis currently leads the Slammers in batting avg. (.317), HR (10), and RBI (41).

Transaction Wire...

The Slammers activated INF Hector Pellot from the 14-Day DL today.

Check out the Joliet Slammers Statistics

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Frontier League Stories from July 17, 2011


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