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Joliet Slammers

Slammers Get Closer to Playoff Bid with Another Victory

August 21, 2011 - Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


(Joliet, IL) - Reid Chenworth hit his first professional home run that turned out to be the difference as the Joliet Slammers (50-34) held on for dear life to defeat the Traverse City Beach Bums (42-42) by a final score of 7-5 Sunday afternoon.

Chenworth's home run came in the eighth inning and gave the Slammers a seemingly insurmountable 7-1 lead.

But reliever Chuck Lukanen struggled in the ninth inning as Matt Brown and Stephen Shults started the inning with back-to-back singles. Hector Bernal hit a RBI grounder to make the score 7-2 and John Parham singled to move Shults to third. Zack Pace singled in Shults and it was a 7-3 ballgame. Chase Burch singled to load the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of J.T. Hall. Hall didn't tie the game but he singled in two more runs to chase Lukanen. Brian Smith entered the game and promptly struck out Jose Vargas. But Tom Zebroski singled to load the bases. Matt Brown, the tenth man to come to the plate in the inning, lined out to Maunus and the Smith had his first professional save.

The Slammers never trailed in the contest as they scored two runs in the first inning. Josh Flores struck out to start the inning but reached first as the ball got away from Parham. Flores stole second and moved to third on a Brad Netzel grounder. Hector Pellot drove in Flores with a groundout to short and it was 1-0 Joliet. Erik Lis promptly made it 2-0 as he hit his 19 th home run of the season.

Joliet starter Jake Renshaw (11-4) shut down Traverse City for the first three innings, but the Beach Bums got on the board in the top of the fourth. Chase Burch singled to start the frame. Then Renshaw issued back-to-back walks to load the bases. One out later a Matt Brown RBI single cut the Joliet lead to 2-1.

Renshaw went five innings, scattering four hits, surrendering the lone run, walking three and striking out four to earn his league-best 11 th win of the season.

The Slammers wasted no time responding with an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth. Maunus doubled to start the frame and one out later Brandon Peters doubled him home. They tacked on two more in the fifth as Flores tripled and Netzel was hit by a pitch. Another Pellot RBI grounder made the score 4-1 and a Maunus RBI single extended the advantage to 5-1.

Billy Petrick tossed two scoreless innings in relief and Lukanen had an easy time in the top of the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth with Maunus on first, Chenworth unleashed a no-doubter to right field for his first professional home run.

Then the Slammers survived in the ninth as they won a series against the Beach Bums for the first time this season.

Joliet gets Monday off before welcoming another division rival, the second place Lake Erie Crushers, to town on Tuesday, August 2 3 rd . Fans can purchase two pretzels for the price of one that game and it's also Facial Hair Awareness Night at the yard. Plus, it's a Book Buddies Reading Club Night so use those vouchers! First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and after the game all kids get to run the bases.

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Frontier League Stories from August 21, 2011


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