Slammers Steal Thunder From 'Bolts

Josh Flores drove in four runs, three of them with one swing of the bat, and the Joliet Slammers (17-14) used two six-run innings to defeat the Windy City ThunderBolts (18-14) by a final score of 14-4 Thursday night.

Joliet got a strong performance from right-hander Billy Petrick (2-5) as he went seven innings, scattering nine hits and giving up two runs. He walked two and struck-out six in the victory.

Kyle Maunus blasted a solo home run to give the Slammers a 1-0 lead in the second inning. In the third inning Bobby Leeper singled to start the frame and Brad Netzel followed with a single of his own. Then Josh Flores crushed a ball onto the Miracle League field in deep left-center for a three-run home run.

Erik Lis followed with a single and Maunus doubled him in.

After Sean Estand walked, David Fox collected his first professional hit with an RBI single. One out later a John Wagle sacrifice fly completed the scoring for the inning as the Slammers found themselves up 7-0.

The fifth inning would see the Slammers’ second six-run inning of the night. Fox smacked a lead-off single and moved to second on a Ben Hewett single. After Wagle walked, Leeper singled in Fox to make the score 8-0.

One out later a passed ball scored another run. Flores drew a walk and with two away back-to-back walks tacked on two more for the Slammers. Fox hit another RBI single for the sixth run of the inning and it was 13-0 Slammers.

Windy City finally got a run in the sixth on a Chris Wade infield single. The Slammers got that run back immediately thanks to a Flores RBI double that scored Leeper in the bottom half of the frame.

That completed the scoring for Joliet as Windy City got one in the seventh and two unearned runs in the ninth.

With the victory, the Slammers pull back to within a ½ game of the first-place ThunderBolts. The two teams will play the rubber match of the three game series Friday night as Jake Renshaw (3-1, 3.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Slammers.

It’s Fireworks Friday so fans are encouraged to stay afterwards for a spectacular post-game fireworks show. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. CST.