FL Normal CornBelters

Landwehr and Bullpen Take Opener at Joliet

Published on July 3, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release


Normal CornBelters pitcher Jack Landwehr
Normal CornBelters pitcher Jack Landwehr
(Normal CornBelters)

NORMAL, Ill. - Despite the Normal CornBelters (20-23) losing their top three starters, Jack Landwehr has risen to the occasion, the right-hander threw another gem in a 3-2 victory over the Joliet Slammers (25-21) on Tuesday in front of 4,595 at Joliet Route 66 Stadium.

"To get a win on the road and the first game of the series is always big. Now we come out tomorrow and Boz (Nick Bozman) will get the ball, and we will go bullpen by committee tomorrow just based on our circumstances here, but we are going to make the best of it and go out and win a ballgame tomorrow," said Manager Billy Horn.

Coming off a performance that won Jack Landwehr (2-2) Frontier League pitcher of the week, the right-hander did not skip a beat. He threw six solids innings and only gave up two runs while striking out four. The Frontier League All-Star again kept the walks down, giving up two and now has only walked eight in 38 innings in his first season as a Belter. Landwehr has now won his last two starts to even his record as he becomes the new ace in the Normal rotation.

"He (Landwehr) has been fantastic for us. Last start, this start, giving us six, seven, eight innings, and just shutting down the opposition. He fills it up, throws a lot of strikes and attacks the zone. Had two walks in six innings, and only gave up a couple hits. Made one mistake, but luckily it didn't hurt us too bad."

The CornBelters, who struggled to score this past weekend, ended the trend early. Derrick Loveless doubled to bring in Fletcher for their first run of the series opener. He moved up another 90 feet after he advanced to third on the throw home and then two pitches later he was brought in on a balk to put Normal up 2-0 in the first.

Both teams remained scoreless until the fifth. Joel Davis drew a leadoff walk then came all around to score by Santiago Chirino who doubled to give the CornBelters a 3-0 advantage. The two-bagger was career-hit number 644 for the starting shortstop in this year's All-Star game. Joliet knocked back-to-back two-out hits to bring in their only two runs of the game.

After 98 pitches, Jonathan de Marte came and replaced Landwehr for his 21st appearance on the season. He threw two scoreless innings for the fourth time this season and gave up his first hit in four outings. Antony Herrera also made his 21st appearance, was called on again to get the save. The sidearmer threw a perfect ninth to earn his team-leading fifth save. Herrera has recorded two saves in a row and four in his last six outings.

While both starting pitching and the bullpen was dominant for the CornBelters, Tanner Lubach also had quite the night behind the plate. He returned to the dish after he was given a couple days off from catching and threw out three runners including two in a row to end the seventh.

"De Marte came in and shut them down and Herrera shut the door. We played really well defensively tonight. Lubach had a heck of a game for his first game back behind the dish. He threw out three runners tonight, should have been four ... but Tanner called a great game, he and Jack were on the same page for the first time together."

Nick Bozman makes first start tomorrow of the season on our nations birthday, with first pitch at for 7:05 p.m.

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Normal CornBelters pitcher Jack Landwehr
Normal CornBelters pitcher Jack Landwehr
   



Frontier League Stories from July 3, 2018


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