FL Joliet Slammers

Slammers Earn Sweep over Evansville

Published on July 28, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


JOLIET, IL- When the Slammers are on, they're on. For the second straight day the Slammers received a great pitching performance to back up a strong pitching performance by Spencer Medick. The Joliet Slammers presented by ATI Physical Therapy came out on top 5-2 to earn the sweep over the Evansville Otters.

The Slammers opened up a nine-game home stand with a three-game set against the Otters and after stealing game one in the ninth inning off a walk-off, the Slammers took advantage of the strong pitching performances by Liam O'Sullivan and Medick and backed them up with 14 runs combined in the two games.

Joliet will play their nine games at home in 10 days, and to come out and get the sweep to start the home stand was big for the Slammers, Jake Gronsky said.

"I think completing the sweep was big for us just because we went through a little bit of a wall in the past week or two," Gronsky said. "We weren't playing good baseball, weren't winning, but we weren't playing the brand of baseball we're used to."

Playing nine games in 10 days is tough no matter what, but the Slammers are comfortable playing at home and it makes it a bit easier, Gronsky said.

Medick has found his way into the win column six times this season after Thursday's win. The lefty came in with a 5-2 record with a 5.26 ERA, but managed to keep the Otters run total low, allowing just one run in six innings.

The Slammers' starter only struck out three batters and walked five, but limiting the Otters hits and letting the defense make the plays. Medick pitched out of bases loaded jam in the third inning.

Medick and the Otters' starting pitcher Tyler Vail were in a pitcher's dual through the first four innings, but Medick was able to just out-pitch Vail. The two pitchers allowed one run each in the fourth inning, but the Slammers' bats came alive in the fifth to give Medick deserving run support.

With the help of a Sikes Orvis two-run home run in the fifth, the Slammers got all the runs they needed to walk away with a sweep. Melvin Rodriguez led off the inning with a hard hit grounder off the leg of Vail, and one pitch later Orvis sent the ball over the right field wall to give the Slammers a 3-1 lead.

Charlie White and Jake Gronsky added to more runs in the fifth inning to cap off the Slammers four-run inning. Gronsky was 2-3 in the game with one RBI, with a couple good plays at third base as well.

Thursday's Merchants and Manufacturers Player of the Game was Jake Gronsky for going 2-3 with an RBI and a walk.

Gronsky is just one of the key components of the Slammers' offense. Joliet had 11 hits in the game, with Melvin and Alfredo Rodriguez also having multi-hit ballgames.

The Slammers combined for 37 hits in the series.

Gronsky added that a series sweep will help them get on a roll. The Slammers started to relax after they started to roll over teams and that was the reason they weren't winning Gronsky said.

"We have such a versatile team," Gronsky said. "If you look at our lineup, it's not just the top of our order. Sometimes we joke around that the bottom of the order is a little more productive than the top sometimes. Everyone can hit in any position."

"We're all looking to get RBIs, we're all looking to score runs," Gronsky said. "I think that's why we fire so well together."

The Slammers extend their lead in the East Division to three games ahead of the Washington Wild Things. Joliet only moved a half-game after the win because Washington's matchup with the Normal CornBelters was cancelled.

About the Joliet Slammers : The Joliet Slammers play at Silver Cross Field in downtown Joliet, Illinois, and are members of the professional, independent Frontier League. The Frontier League is a 12-team league entering its 24th season of play in 2016. Visit the Slammer online at www.jolietslammers.com or call the ticket office at 815-722-2287 for more information! Don't forget to "Like" the Slammers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jolietslammers or follow them on Twitter at @jolietslammers!

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Frontier League Stories from July 28, 2016


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