Masterful Moss Blanks Rockford

(Loves Park, IL) – Andrew Moss missed his last turn in the rotation.

On Saturday night all he missed were bats.

The former Saint Louis Cardinals farmhand went 8 2/3^rd shutout innings, giving up four hits, walking two, and striking out a season-high eight to pick up his second victory of the season as the Joliet Slammers (18-15) beat the Rockford RiverHawks (12-22) by a final score of 2-0 Saturday night.

Joliet provided just enough offense to make Moss’ effort pay off. Ben Hewett was hit by a pitch to start the third inning. A perfect Bobby Leeper sacrifice bunt moved him to second and with two away Josh Flores singled Hewett home to give the Slammers a 1-0 edge.

Rockford mounted their biggest threat in the bottom half of the third. With one out Freddy Parejo doubled. David Cooper singled and Luis Parache was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But Moss got a huge K for the second out of the frame. That’s when Kyle Maunus robbed Jeremy Hamilton of a hit with a great diving stop to his right and flipped it to Moss for the final out of the frame.

Bobby Leeper tripled to start the fifth. One out later Flores was hit by a pitch and Erik Lis drove the ball to right for a sacrifice fly and it was 2-0 Slammers.

But it was the Andrew Moss show as the right-hander really got into a groove. Manager Bart Zeller gave him a chance for the complete game as Moss retired the first two batters he faced in the ninth. After a two-out walk, Ryan Quigley entered to try and nail down the save.

He was greeted by Cameron Satterwhite who hit a deep fly ball to left. David Fox caught the ball at the wall and the Slammers prevailed.

The teams are back in action for game two of the three-game set Sunday afternoon. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m., as Brian Fowler (1-0, 1.59 ERA) looks to back up his strong Slammers debut.