FL Joliet Slammers

Slammers Take Commanding Lead in Series Thanks to More Great Pitching

Published on September 8, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


(Joliet, IL) - The Joliet Slammers managed only six hits but two were of the long ball variety in a 3-1 victory over the Lake Erie Crushers Thursday night.

Ryan Quigley picked up his second save in as many nights after the teams waited out a rain delay that lasted 61 minutes before the ninth could even start.

It was the Tommy Mendoza show for Joliet as the right-hander went seven innings, scattering six hits, surrendering only one run, walking one and striking out three.

Hector Pellot smacked a solo shot with two away in the first to give Joliet a 1-0 lead.

The Crushers tied things in the third inning. Kyle Boe and Chris Luick got things started with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt moved them over and with two away Jason Taylor singled home Boe to give Lake Erie to knot the game at one.

But Joliet played long ball again in the bottom of the third as Brandon Peters hit his first homer as a Slammer with a drive to right and it was 2-1 Slammers.

The game was a great battle between two outstanding pitchers in Mendoza and Eric Gonzalez-Diaz of the Crushers. Gonzalez-Diaz only gave up five hits and struck out 10 batters in his seven innings of work. But the two home runs were his undoing.

Joliet got some insurance against Ruben Flores in the eighth. Josh Flores reached on an infield single and moved to second on a Brad Netzel sacrifice bunt. Pellot drew a walk and a passed ball moved Flores to third. That brought Erik Lis to the plate and he grounded out to first to score Flores as Joliet went up 3-1.

Brian Smith worked an easy eighth inning and Quigley left two men stranded to pick up his save after the rain delay in the ninth.

The Slammers are one win away from advancing to the Frontier League Championship series. They have an off day Friday before taking on the Crushers Saturday in Avon, Ohio. Jeremy Tietze (7-1, 4.61 ERA) takes the mound. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. Central Time and all the action can be heard on AM 1340 WJOL and www.wjol.com .

Joliet Slammers baseball is presented by ATI Physical Therapy and the team's run through the 2011 Frontier League playoffs is brought to you by a number of generous sponsors including Velocita Technology, Jan and Tom Quillman, Play Ball USA, and Harrah's Joliet . The Herald-News and AM 1340 WJOL, the home of the Slammers, also have been instrumental in the Slammers' success in our inaugural season.

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Frontier League Stories from September 8, 2011


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