Slammers ' Magic Number On Hold

Chad Cregar drove in six runs and the Windy City ThunderBolts scored four times in the eighth inning to defeat the Slammers 7-5 Tuesday night.

Traverse City had their game rained out so the Slammers’ magic number to clinch the East Division remains at one.

The game was a back-and-forth affair as the Slammers grabbed the lead in the bottom of the third.

With one away Trey Manz singled and stole second. Josh Flores singled him to third and went to second when the throw went to home plate. Brad Netzel singled in both runners to put Joliet up 2-0.

It wouldn’t last long though as Joliet starter Andrew Moss had a bout of wildness in the fourth.

With one down Zach Aakhus reached on an infield single that went off Moss’ hand. Then with two away Moss issued back-to-back walks to load the bases. Cregar made him pay with a bases clearing double to give Windy City the 3-2 edge.

The Slammers got some two-out lightning to take the lead on the ThunderBolts in the sixth.

Hector Pellot got things started with a single and one out later he stole second and third base. Brandon Peters drew a walk and stole second as well. Then with two down Kris Kasarjian, playing in his first game since July 22, singled in both runners and Joliet was back on top by a score of 4-3.

The eighth inning was the Slammers’ undoing though as Mike Torres reached on a bunt single. Reliever Chuck Lukanen threw the ball down the right field line, allowing Torres to advance to second.

The ThunderBolts bunted Torres to third and he scored on a Jason James RBI single.

Brian Smith entered the game and got Devin Shepherd to hit a tailor-made double play ball that Netzel booted. This opened the flood gates as the next batter walked and Cregar cleared the bases again with his second double of the night.

The Slammers managed to get one back in the bottom of the eighth but could have had a lot more. Pellot walked to start the inning and Kyle Maunus singled. Brandon Peters got hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out.

Sean Estand gave the ball a ride to dead center field but Brandon Anderson tracked it down for out number one. Pellot scored on the play to make the score 7-5 in favor of Windy City.

That’s how it would stay though as the next two batters popped out to end the rally.

The Slammers went down 1-2-3 in the ninth as they dropped their third straight home game and snapped their three-game winning streak.

The Slammers will look to clinch the division Wednesday night as Tommy Mendoza takes the mound.

It is a “Win It” Wednesday. If the Slammers win, every fan in attendance wins a free ticket to the Thursday, September 1st game. It’s the final Book Buddies Reading Club Night of the season and the Slammers present their “Salute to the Weatherman.”

All kids get to run the bases after the game. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. central time.

Wednesday is also Mokena Community Night. Mayor Joe Werner will throw out the first pitch.