FL Joliet Slammers

Slammers Win a Wild One Over Rockford

Published on September 4, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


(Loves Park, IL) - In the craziest game of the season, the Joliet Slammers (56-39) blew an eight run lead but scored three runs in the top of the seventh to edge the Rockford RiverHawks (36-59) by a final score of 12-10 Sunday afternoon.

After jumping off to a 9-1 lead in game one of the doubleheader, starter Jeremy Tietze and reliever Billy Petrick couldn't hold the advantage for Joliet. Rockford scored nine unanswered runs, including seven in the sixth inning to take a 10-9 edge.

But Joe Scumaci (4-4) couldn't hold on to Rockford's lead as Joliet rallied in the seventh. With one down, pinch hitter Reid Chenworth singled to left as he took advantage of Rockford's no doubles defense. Josh Flores followed with a single of his own and Brad Netzel continued to tear the cover off the ball as he doubled in pinch runner Brandon Peters to tie the game.

Hector Pellot followed with a grounder to third. Josh Flores got in a rundown and proceeded to do his best "Benjamin 'The Jet' Rodriguez" impression as he managed to get out of the pickle. Catcher Carlos Dominguez, after failing to get Flores at third, started chasing Netzel back to second. Netzel got back safely and Flores came in to score. Pellot also ended up at second base and was tagged out but the Slammers grabbed the 11-10 lead nonetheless. Erik Lis followed with a RBI single to get Joliet an insurance run.

Joliet native Ryan Quigley ended the madness with his league-leading 28 th save of the year as he sent Rockford down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh.

Just like he did Friday, Flores smacked a solo home run to start the game as the Slammers took a 1-0 lead.

The offense really got rolling in the second inning against Rockford starter Brett Scarpetta. Kris Kasarjian and Sean Estand smacked back-to-back singles. Then Trey Manz lay down a perfect bunt to reach as well. With the bases loaded and nobody out, David Fox singled home Kasarjian to make it 2-0 Joliet. One out later Brad Netzel reached base for the 33 rd straight game he's played in as he singled in Estand. A Hector Pellot sacrifice fly made the score 4-0 Joliet.

In the third, the Slammers scored three more runs off Scarpetta. With two on and two away, David Fox singled in a run. Flores singled to load the bases and Netzel singled home two more.

The 7-0 lead was cut to 7-1 when Evan Button homered off Tietze in the third.

Joliet's lead reached its high-water mark in the top of the fourth. With one away Kyle Maunus singled and Kris Kasarjian doubled Maunus to third. Sean Estand smacked a RBI grounder and Trey Manz doubled home Kasarjian as the Slammers went up by a score of 9-1.

Rockford scored a run in the fourth and Greg Van Horn went yard in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 9-3, but Tietze got out of the inning without any further damage.

He wouldn't be so fortunate in the sixth. Jake Eigsti singled to start the frame. Michael Hur and Matt Greener both drew walks to load the bases. A Luis Parache sacrifice fly scored Eigsti. After Tietze walked Button, the Slammers brought in Billy Petrick.

Petrick couldn't get anyone out. Dominguez singled in a run and Van Horn was hit by a pitch. Another run crossed the plate and all of a sudden it was a 9-6 ballgame. A Freddy Parejo two-RBI double followed to cut the Slammers' lead to one. Then David Cooper hit a spinner that just got past a diving Estand down the left field line to give Rockford a stunning 10-9 lead.

After Petrick intentionally walked Eigsti, Brian Smith (1-1) entered the game and struck out the two in a row to end the inning.

The Slammers rewarded Smith for his effort as he picked up the win when Joliet rallied in the seventh.

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