Saints win opener of series and second half 3-1
Published on July 12, 2005 under Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
Joliet, IL-- The St. Paul Saints (29-19) picked right up where they left off in the second half by taking the opener of their three game series at Joliet (23-26) by a 3-1 score. The Saints are the defending champions of the league, and the winners of the first half in the Northern League's South Division.
The JackHammers actually out-hit the Saints 9-5, but were hurt by the three double plays turned by St. Paul. Mike Meyer (4-3) picked up his second win in a six day stretch against Joliet, as he out dueled tough luck loser Luis Villarreal (3-4), who allowed just two earned runs (three total) to the Saints in his seven innings of work on just five hits.
St. Paul got the game rolling with an un-earned run in the first, as Billy Munoz singled home Justin Hall who had earlier reached on an error. It would turn out to be Munoz's only at-bat of the night as he was later ejected in the 1st inning.
The Saints made it 2-0 after Josh Renick scored from second on an infield single off the bat of Kris Cox that ricocheted off Villarreal's leg. Renick led off the frame with a walk, stole second, and came in on the two out infield knock.
Joliet would cut that lead in half in the bottom of the fifth inning, when Matt Howe connected on a hanging breaking ball and blasted it off the fair pole for his 10th home run of the season. That would end up being the first and only run of the evening for the âHammers however.
Tonayne Brown added some sixth inning insurance with his second home run of the year, an opposite field wall scraper off Villarreal that made it 3-1, which proved to be the game's final tally.
Each team's bullpens were solid, as the Saints one-two punch of Brian Steffek, Tim Christman and Matt Hammons combined for the final three innings, allowing no runs on just one hit. The JackHammers' Kyle Zaleski meanwhile was scoreless in his two innings on the hill.
The Saints were held to just five hits, coming for five different players while the JackHammers had nine hits, with three different players coming up with multi-hit games: Josh Loggins (3-4), Jayson Drobiak (2-4), John Lackaff (2-3).
The start of the 6:05 game was delayed forty-three minutes by rain.
Loose gravel: Wednesday's game was the first game of the second half for both teams. St. Paul entered as the defending champions of the 1st half.
St. Paul 1st baseman Billy Munoz was ejected in the bottom of the first inning for arguing the call on a failed pickoff attempt.
With the strikeout of Kris Cox, all 3,133 in attendance received a free game of bowling compliments of the Will County Bowling Proprietors.
The JackHammers have now homered in five straight games, winning two of those contests.
Northern League Stories from July 12, 2005
- Errors prove costly for Flyers - Schaumburg Flyers
- Saints win opener of series and second half 3-1 - Joliet JackHammers
- Two Cracker-Cats added to All-star game - Edmonton Capitals
- RailCats add Triple-A hitter - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Fish feel swell with return of Purcell - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Moreno earns weekly honors - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Oldenburg named to South Division All-Star Team - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Moreno and Myers win Northern League weekly awards - NL
- Four RedHawks added to All-Star roster - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Northern League All-Star reserves and pitchers announced - NL
- Lincoln and Sedlacek added to North elite - Winnipeg Goldeyes
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