FL Joliet Slammers

May 29 Joliet Slammers Game Notes

May 29, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


JOLIET SLAMMERS (4-6) @ LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS (4-5)

Tuesday, May 29 - 9:35 a.m. CT

All Pro Freight Stadium - Avon, OH

Game #11 - Road Game #5 (4-6), (1-3)

RHP #39 Tommy Mendoza (1-0, 0.90 ERA) vs. LHP #23 Paul Fagan (1-1, 2.25 ERA)

Last time out...

Joliet fell by a score of 3-2 in the finale of their three-game series with the Evansville Otters at Silver Cross Field. Steven Garcia doubled to start the third inning, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a groundout. The Slammers responded in the bottom of the frame when Trey Manz doubled to start the rally. A fielder's choice moved him to third and the game was tied at one after the Otters turned a double play, allowing the run to score in the process. Brad Netzel smacked a double to start the fourth and would eventually come around to score on a RBI grounder from Hector Pellot. Evansville tied the game against Joliet starter Michael Perconte when Brett Chamberlain hit a solo home run. In the eighth inning the Otters picked up an unearned run to grab the lead for good after Zach Mandelblatt dropped a fly ball, allowing Garcia to reach. He would score on a RBI single from Matt Sheely.

For Starters...

RHP pitcher Tommy Mendoza gets his third start of the season for the Slammers this morning. In his last start on May 23 against the Traverse City Beach Bums he went five innings, giving up four hits and three runs (none of them earned) in a no-decision. Mendoza made his first start for the Slammers on June 27, 2011 and went on to post a 6-2 record during the regular season. He won both his starts in the playoffs while posting a 1.50 ERA. Mendoza was a 5th round draft pick of the Angels in 2005. He has a career ERA of 3.97 over six seasons in affiliated baseball. 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.

History in Avon...

The Slammers have had a number of great moments in Avon, Ohio in their short history. They won their first road series here a year ago today. DH/INF Erik Lis won the Frontier League All-Star Game MVP Award in Avon last season and RHP Andrew Moss tossed the first (and only) no-hitter in franchise history on July 27, 2011 at All Pro Freight Stadium. Including the post-season, the Slammers went 6-1 against the Crushers in Avon in 2011. On September 10 of last season, the Slammers beat the Crushers in game three of the first round of the playoffs in Avon to sweep the series and advance to the Frontier League Championship series.

During the day...

The Slammers are 0-3 in day games so far in 2012.

Lock 'em down!

The Slammers' bullpen has an ERA of 2.06 on the season in 35 innings. The pitching staff as a whole currently sports an ERA of 2.69.

Save me...

RHP Daniel Carela picked up the first save of the Slammers' 2012 season Friday night. Joliet native Ryan Quigley set a Frontier League single-season record with 28 saves in 2011. He is currently in High Single-A in the Padres organization.

Erroneous!

The Slammers have surrendered the most unearned runs in the league (17) while committing 12 errors on the season (tied for fourth most in the league).

Movin' on up!

RHP Gaby Hernandez became the fourth Slammers player to move on to affiliated baseball when his contract was purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, May 21. He joins LHP Aaron Dott, Joliet native RHP Ryan Quigley and Darien native RHP Chris Pack as former Slammers in MLB organizations.

Check out the Joliet Slammers Statistics



Frontier League Stories from May 29, 2012


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