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FL Joliet Slammers

Slammers Lose 4-2 to Otters Following Dramatic Ninth

July 18, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


Joliet, IL- The Joliet Slammers (22-31) put the go-ahead run on base in the ninth inning, but can't come up with the big RBI, falling to the Evansville Otters (35-18) 4-2 on Saturday night.

After putting a pair on in the second, the Slammers scored the game's first run against Trevor Walch in the third. With two outs, CF Charlie White reached on an error. LF Phil Bates moved him to third with a single before Alfredo Rodriguez drove him in with a single. The Slammers lead 1-0 after the third.

The Otters took the lead against lefty Michael Carden with two unearned runs in the fifth. They added a run in the seventh inning against pitcher David Kubiak. SS Cory Urqhart led off with a walk before DH John Schultz moved him over with a single. An error by Lopez at first allowed a run to score to put the Otters on top 3-1. With the bases loaded, Kubiak struck out Sweeney and got Balog to ground out, ending the Otters threat.

Evansville padded their lead in the eighth against Andrew Strenge. LF Kurt Wertz Jr. singled to lead off the inning and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by former Slammer C J.D. Dorgan. He later came around to score on a wild pitch, giving the Otters a 4-2 lead.

Joliet made things interesting in the ninth inning against All-Star closer Edgar Lopez. 3B Mike Garza, DH Hunter Ridge and RF Casey Fletcher each singled to load the bases with nobody out. Pinch hitter Nate Roberts struck out looking on a full-count pitch and Adam Giacalone did the same. With the bases still loaded, two outs and White up, a Lopez pitch got passed Dorgan allowing Garza to score and everyone else to move up a base. With the Slammers now down 4-2, White would walk to reload the bases. With the bags full and two outs, LF Phil Bates grounded out to second, ending the Slammers threat. Michael Carden (2-3) despite not allowing an earned run, took the loss. Trevor Walch (7-3) earned the win and Lopez held on for the save. Our Merchants and Manufacturers Bank player of the game was Carden, who tossed five innings, scattering four hits while walking one and not giving up an earned run.

Notes: Mike Garza extended is road hitting streak to seventeen games with a single in the second inning...Michael Carden didn't allow an earned run in a start for the first time this year... The Slammers have now played the top three teams in the West Division seventeen times this year...They are 2-15 in those games... After not committing an error in the series opener the Slammers had four tonight... Andrew Strenge pitched out of the bullpen for the first time since May 19th...For the second straight night the Slammers strand the potential game-tying run in scoring position in the ninth inning... Edgar Lopez has given up eight hits this year with four of them coming against the Slammers...Joliet will try to salvage the series on Sunday at 5:05pmCT in game three against the Evansville Otters...LHP Hunter Ackerman is on the mound against righty Tyler Vail.

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