Peters Propels Slammers to Brink of Championship

Brandon Peters entered Saturday’s Frontier League Championship Series game as a defensive replacement.

He left a hero.

Peters hit a walk-off home run on the first pitch he saw in his first at bat of the game as the Slammers stunned the River City Rascals with a 4-3 win to take a two-games-to-one lead in the Frontier League Championship Series.

“It was definitely the biggest hit of my career,” Peters said shortly after celebrating at home plate with his teammates.With the win, the Slammers are one victory away taking the Frontier Cup in the team's inaugural season.

For the third straight game in the series, River City took the early lead. Starter Jeremy Tietze walked Chris McClendon to start the game. McClendon stole second and advanced to third when Trey Manz’s throw went into center. One out later Logan Parker delivered a sacrifice fly and it was 1-0 River City.

The Slammers took advantage of a lead-off base-on-balls of their own in the third. Manz drew the free pass and stole second. With two outs, Hector Pellot drew a walk and Erik Lis singled in Manz to tie the game.

Manz got things going again for the Slammers in the fifth as he singled to start he frame. One out later Brad Netzel bunted him to second. Pellot came through with a single and Manz scored to give Joliet a 2-1 lead.

Tietze retired eight in a row from the third inning through the fifth. But McClendon singled to start the sixth. One out later the Slammers brought in Chuck Lukanen to face the lefty-heavy middle of the order. Parker and Stephen Holdren both threw walks to load the bases. Lukanen got Jason Patton to hit into a fielder’s choice but McClendon scored to tie the game. Chris Pack came on and struck out Joash Brodin to end the inning.

But Pack’s control left him in the seventh. He walked Jareck West to start the inning. West stole second and two outs later the Slammers intentionally walked McClendon. Pinch hitter Eric Williams drew a walk to load the bases and Parker up picked his second RBI of the night with a bases loaded walk.

Billy Petrick entered for Pack and got Holdren to ground out to finally end the inning.

The Slammers responded in dramatic fashion in the eighth. With one away Netzel singled and advanced to second on a passed ball. Then with two down, Lis worked the count full against reliever Zach Robertson. He hit a seeing-eye single up the middle to score Netzel and tie the game at three.

Brian Smith tossed a scoreless top of the ninth and Peters got a first pitch fastball from River City closer Derrick Miramontes and knew exactly what to do with it has he pulled it deep into the night sky for the game-winner.

“Captain” Jake Renshaw takes the mound Sunday as the Slammers look to clinch the title. First pitch is at 5:05 p.m.