Lis' Clutch Double Chalks Another Home Win For Slammers

Erik Lis hit a bases clearing double in the bottom of the seventh inning that turned out to be the difference in the Joliet Slammers’ (14-13) 7-5 victory over the Rockford RiverHawks (11-17) Sunday night.

Ben Hewett got things going in the third when he walked to start the frame. After Ben Ferrell bunted him over, John Wagle tripled to deep right-center and the Slammers were up 1-0.

Meanwhile Jake Renshaw was outstanding for the first four innings. However the RiverHawks took the lead in the fifth. With one away David Cooper singled. Then two away Luis Parache blasted a home run to make the score 2-1 in favor of Rockford.

They chased Renshaw from the game in the sixth as Matt Greener doubled with one away. With two down, Greg Van Horn drew a walk and Caleb Curry singled in Greener. That was all for Renshaw as Chuck Lukanen entered the game. Lukanen struck-out David Cooper to end the frame.

Renshaw went 5 2/3rds innings, giving up three runs on six hits while walking two and striking-out seven.

Down 3-1 the Slammers rallied in the bottom half of the frame. A little two out lightning was in the cards as Lis drew a walk with two away. Kyle Maunus drew a walk of his own and Sean Estand singled in Lis to make the score 3-2. Then Rockford’s defense let them down as Bobby Leeper’s grounder appeared to end the inning. But Cooper had the throw go off his glove at second base and the game was tied at three.

 Lukanen walked the lead-off man in the seventh and after a sacrifice bunt intentionally walked the next batter. Another unintentional walk would chase him from the game though as the bases were now loaded.

Jeremy Tietze entered the game and gave up a sacrifice fly but got out of the inning without any further damage.

Down 4-3, the Slammers’ offense finally exploded in the bottom half of the seventh. Ferrell singled and Wagle drew a walk. With Brad Netzel showing bunt, Ferrell noticed that no one was covering third and swiped the bag on a delayed steal. Netzel eventually drew a walk and the bases were loaded with nobody out. Josh Flores popped up for the first out of the frame. Then Lis drove the ball in the left-center gap for the bases clearing double and it was 6-4 Slammers. Maunus immediately made it 7-4 as he singled down the left field line.

Rockford threatened in the eighth as the lead-off man was hit by a Tietze pitch. Tietze walked the next batter and the Slammers called on Aaron Dott. Dott walked the first batter he faced to load the bases but got a huge 4-6-3 double play. A run scored on the play to make it 7-5. As he has all year, Dott came up huge, striking-out the next batter to get out of the jam.

Joliet native Ryan Quigley saved his ninth game of the year in nine attempts as he continues to look quite healthy.

Monday is Daycare Day at Silver Cross Field. It’s also a Mascot Monday as Staley Da Bear will be in attendance. First pitch is at 11:05 a.m. CST and Jason Jarvis (1-2, 4.22 ERA) will be on the mound for Joliet as they look to win their seventh straight at home. With Windy City’s loss Sunday night the Slammers are now 1.5 games out of first place in the East Division.