FL Joliet Slammers

Slammers Drop to Miners in Game One of Doubleheader

Published on May 31, 2015 under Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


Marion, IL - After scoring early, the Joliet Slammers (6-8) struggle against the Southern Illinois Miners (10-4) ace, Matt Bywater, losing to the Miners 4-2 in game one of Sunday's doubleheader.

The Slammers scored first against the 2014 Frontier League Pitcher of the Year. With two outs SS Alfredo Rodriguez reached on an error. LF Phil Bates moved him to third with a single to centerfield. With runners at the corners and catcher Jack Cleary up, Bates attempted to steal second. Miners catcher Toby Demello's throw airmailed second and landed in centerfield, allowing Rodriguez to score, putting the Slammers up 1-0.

Southern Illinois came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. DH Wendell Fairley led off with a single and with one out and 1B Jerrud Sabourin up, Bates dropped a foul ball near the leftfield line. With two on and one out, 3B Steve Marino drove in Fairley with a single, LF Jon Minucci knocked home Sabourin, giving the Miners a 2-1 lead.

The Slammers answered with a run in the top of the third. With two outs RF Nate Roberts walked. 3B Mike Garza moved him to second with a single. DH Russell Moldenhauer then hit a slow roller to the Sabourin at first. He scooped up the ball and flipped to the pitcher Bywater covering. Moldenhauer beat Bywater to the bag. Roberts raced around third to score on the play, tying the game at 2-2.

The Miners pulled away in the fourth. With one out, Minucci and DeMello smacked back-to-back singles. CF Aaron Gates tripled up the right field line, scoring both baserunners, giving the Miners the 4-2 advantage.

That lead would hold as the Slammers managed just one hit against Bywater over the final four innings of the game. The Miners won by a final score of 4-2 in a game shortened by the doubleheader. David Kubiak pitched six innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk. He also struck out two. Game two is at 6:25pm. You can catch the action on http://www.jolietslammers.com/gameday/slammervision/.




Frontier League Stories from May 31, 2015


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