FL Joliet Slammers

Slammers Complete Sweep of CornBelters with 9-6 Win

Published on June 28, 2015 under Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


Joliet, IL- Timely, two-out hitting helps the Joliet Slammers (18-21) survive a barrage of homers from the Normal CornBelters (24-17) in their 9-6 victory on Sunday evening.

After struggling to put bat on ball in the first two innings the Slammers scored twice in the third against LHP Kevin Brahney. SS Alfredo Rodriguez walked to lead off the frame. He was then moved over by a sacrifice bunt by 2B Sam Klein. CF Charlie White followed up with a single to center. Rodriguez was held at third to set up runners at the corners with one out. 1B Nate Roberts broke open the scoring when he shot one into the right field corner. Rodriguez and White crossed the dish. Roberts was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.

The CornBelters evened the game in the fifth inning against pitcher Adam Giacalone. RF Ozney Guillen led off the inning with a homer to cut the Slammers lead to 2-1. 2B Santiago Chirino walked and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, CF Mark Micowski chopped a ground ball to second that was misplayed by Klein. Chirino came around to score to tie the game at 2-2 before Micowski was thrown out trying to swipe second.

The Slammers got those two runs back in the bottom of the fifth. SS Alfredo Rodriguez and Charlie White walked, eventually getting in scoring position. 3B Mike Garza lined a two-RBI single to center with two outs, giving the Slammers a 4-2 lead.

Joliet added two runs in the sixth. Bates walked and was driven in by a Russell Moldenhauer RBI double. Later in the inning Moldenhauer scored on a sacrifice fly by Alfredo Rodriguez. It was 6-2 Slammers after six frames of play.

In the CornBelters' seventh 3B Richard Lucas doubled to left center. Ozney Guillen smacked his second homer of the day to cut the lead in half 6-4. Later in the inning a throwing error by 3B Mike Garza allowed C Jim Vahalik to score, trimming the Slammers' lead to one.

Normal got right back to it in their half of the eighth when 1B Aaron Dudley homered to right field to tie things up at six. Later in the inning Ozney Guillen continued his hot hitting with a triple down the right side, but was left stranded.

The Slammers kept swinging their hot bats as RF Hunter Ridge singled to lead off the eighth. Casey Fletcher came in to pinch run. Phil Bates reached in similar fashion to put two on with no outs. C Jack Cleary singled to plate Fletcher and the lead was regained 7-6. Rodriguez gave Joliet more support with an RBI double that scored Bates. Max Casper pinch hit for Sam Klein and placed a ball in front of Micowski in center. Cleary scored the third and final run of the inning to make it 9-6.

Kevin McNorton continued his relief into the ninth and shut the door to sweep Normal and extend the team's winning streak to six. Our Merchants and Manufacturers Bank Player of the Game was Mike Garza. He went one for three and drove in two runs. McNorton was credited with the win (3-1) and Ross Spurgeon was handed the loss for Normal (1-1). Joliet has a day off before they open up a three game set with the Traverse City Beach Bums. First pitch for game one at Silver Cross Field is set for Tuesday at 7:05pmCT. If you are unable to make it out to the ballpark you can watch live on JolietSlammers.com/gameday/slammervision/.

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Frontier League Stories from June 28, 2015


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