Beach Bums Send Slammers To Fourth Straight Loss

Jose Vargas smacked two home runs and drove in all four Traverse City Beach Bums runs as the Slammers fell by a score of 4-3 in 12 innings Friday night in front of 4534 fans at Silver Cross Field.

With the loss, the Slammers’ lead in the East Division is down to 4.5 games over the Lake Erie Crushers.

Vargas hit his first two run home run of the night in the third inning off Tommy Mendoza. Mendoza went six innings, scattering six hits, surrendering the two runs, walking three and striking out six.

Joliet rallied in the fourth against Traverse City starter David Deminsky. Hector Pellot got things going with a double. An Erik Lis grounder moved him to third and he scored on a Kyle Maunus infield single.

Sean Estand tripled to start the fifth. After Trey Manz was hit by a pitch, Josh Flores hit into a double play. Estand scored on the play to tie the game at two.

It would remain that way until the 12^th inning. The Slammers missed scoring opportunities all night as they had men on base in every inning except for the second and the 10^th.

Billy Petrick and Brian Smith were brilliant out of the bullpen, combining to toss five scoreless innings. Ryan Quigley entered the game in the 12^th and struck the first man he faced out.

But J.T. Hall singled and Vargas unloaded on a pitch to dead center for his second home run of the night.

The Slammers tried to rally in the bottom of the inning and did manage to get one run back. With one out Brad Netzel and Pellot reached on back-to-back singles. Then Lis singled in Netzel and advanced to third on an error by center fielder Greg Burns.

Kyle Maunus walked, loading the bases with one out for Brandon Peters. Peters struck out looking for the second out of the frame, bringing Reid Chenworth to the plate.

Chenworth tore the cover off the ball but Vargas (yes, that man again) made a spectacular diving catch to his left at shortstop to end the game.

It’s the first four game losing streak of the year for the Slammers as they’ll look to bounce back Saturday night. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. Central Time as Kevin Crimmel (5-4, 4.73 ERA) takes the mound.