Slammers Lose Heartbreaker at Home

Sometimes even great pitching isn’t enough.

The Joliet Slammers (27-21) found that out the hard way in a 2-1 loss to the Rockford RiverHawks (22-27) in front of a record crowd of 4,298 at Silver Cross Field Friday night.

Starter Ryne Miller had Rockford eating out of his hand for his seven innings of work. They managed only two hits and two walks while Miller struck out seven. Brian Smith worked a perfect eighth inning to lower his ERA to 0.42.

Meanwhile Kyle Maunus smacked his eighth home run of the year to give Joliet a 1-0 lead in the second inning. But starter Joe Scumaci (3-0) settled down after that, going eight strong innings, scattering six hits, surrendering the lone run, walking three and striking out nine.

The Slammers were 23-0 when leading after eight innings entering the game. Closer Ryan Quigley had not blown a save and entered in the ninth looking for his 17th save of the year.

Quigley walked David Cooper to start the frame. Cooper stole second, putting the tying run in scoring position. Quigley got the league’s leading hitter Jake Eigsti to strike out. He also struck out Jason James, but catcher Trey Manz couldn’t handle the nasty slider allowing James to reach base safely. Cooper went to third on the play.

That’s when Matt Greener singled in Cooper to knot the game at one. He went to second base on Bobby Leeper’s throw to third.

Quigley intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases with one out in a tie game. That brought up pinch hitter Jamal Carrington, who entered the game batting a measly .059.

But Carrington didn't need to put his bat on the ball as Quigley walked him to force in the go-ahead.

The Slammers staged a bit of a rally in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Kyle Maunus hit a high pop up that no one on the Rockford infield could catch. Brad Netzel lined a double to left to put runners on second and third with only one away. The RiverHawks intentionally walked Kris Kasarjian to load the bases.

Leeper then stepped to the plate and hit a sharp grounder to third that was stabbed by Eigsti who fired home to get Maunus for the second out.

The Slammers’ last hope was John Wagle, who worked a 3-0 count. On 3-1 he popped out to end the game.

With the loss, the Slammers stay 1.5 games up in the East Division. Traverse City and Windy City are now tied for second place.