Otters Recognize Boots Day, Come up a Run Shy Thursday
September 10, 2021 - Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Evansville Otters fought back well after a slow start Thursday, rallying just a run shy in an 8-7 loss to the Joliet Slammers, and on a night when the Otters organization recognized Boots Day before his retirement.
During Thursday's pregame ceremonies, the Otters presented Boots Day with a special gift to take with him, as he plans to retire at the end of the 2021 season. Special videos with congratulatory remarks from Day's peers were played on the video board.
In the game, the Otters were baffled early, as the Slammers were tough outs to get in the first inning.
The Slammers scored the first run on an RBI double. Then Luke Mangieri, who was traded to Joliet from Evansville's West Division rival Southern Illinois Miners, hit a grand slam to give Joliet a 5-0 lead.
Dylan Hardy added another run before the end of the first.
Evansville starter Polo Portela, who took the eventual loss, got only one out and allowed six runs before handing the ball off to reliever Joe Riley.
Riley pitched well in relief, going 4.2 innings scoreless with five punchouts.
The Otters scored their first run in the third off a Joliet error.
Evansville came back within 6-4 in the fifth, thanks to a two-RBI single by J.R. Davis and an RBI double by Dakota Phillips.
The Slammers pushed it back to a three-game, 7-4, when Scott Holzwasser hit a solo home run in the sixth. In the seventh, his solo home run was followed by another solo homer from Carson Maxwell, making the score 8-4.
A run on a wild pitch and a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh brought Evansville back to a two-run deficit 8-6.
The Otters chipped away again in the eighth on an RBI double by Riley Krane, cutting into Joliet's lead to within a single run, 8-7.
However, the Slammers called upon their closer Trevor Charpie to pitch the last 1.1 innings to get the save and seal the rubber match win for Joliet.
Joliet's Tom Walker pitched five innings, allowing four runs - three earned - with six strikeouts in the start for the win.
Offensively for Evansville, the Otters spread out their 10 hits up and down the lineup. Josh Allen had two hits, while J.R. Davis had two hits and three RBIs.
In the series, Davis went 7 for 10 with eight RBIs.
Following Thursday's games, the Otters are a half game back of the Florence Y'alls after their win Thursday night.
The Otters' magic number in their push for the postseason is four.
The Otters open their regular season finale series Friday at 6:35 p.m. from Bosse Field.
Evansville Otters broadcast coverage Friday can be found on frontierleaguetv.com.
The Evansville Otters are the 2006 and 2016 Frontier League champions.
The Otters play all home games at historic Bosse Field, located at 23 Don Mattingly Way in Evansville, Ind. Stay up-to-date with the Evansville Otters by visiting evansvilleotters.com, or follow the Otters on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For more information, visit evansvilleotters.com or call (812) 435-8686.
Frontier League Stories from September 10, 2021
- Otters Outscore Crushers in Eighth Inning to Win - Evansville Otters
- Otters seize lead and win from Crushers; All runs marked as unearned - Lake Erie Crushers
- Westcott Makes Miners History in Win over Gateway - Southern Illinois Miners
- ThunderBolts Handle Joliet in Series Opener - Windy City ThunderBolts
- 'Cats Fall in Final Series Opener of the Season - Tri-City ValleyCats
- Grizzlies Shut Down After Big First Inning - Gateway Grizzlies
- Mills' Strong Start, Error Lead to Wild Things' Victory in Opener - Washington Wild Things
- Boulders Fend Off Jackals For Victory - New York Boulders
- Boomers Drop Opener at Florence - Schaumburg Boomers
- All-Stars Blast Y'alls to Victory over Boomers - Florence Y'alls
- Gateway Wins Series against Windy with Derby Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Otters Recognize Boots Day, Come up a Run Shy Thursday - Evansville Otters
- ThunderBolts Lose Home Run Tiebreaker - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Florence Takes First with Blowout Win, Evansville Loss on Thursday Night - Florence Y'alls
- Miners Shut out by Florence - Southern Illinois Miners
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