Slammers Slap Around Rascals

On a perfect afternoon for baseball at Silver Cross Field, the Joliet Slammers achieved perfection, at least for one home stand.

The Slammers beat the River City Rascals 4-1 to sweep the series and win their sixth consecutive game and seventh straight at Silver Cross Field. It’s their seventh series sweep of the year and comes on the heels of a sweep of the Gateway Grizzlies at the yard.

For the third straight game, the Slammers were out-hit by River City, this time 10-6.

Tommy Mendoza picked up the victory as he scattered eight hits over six innings while only surrendering one run. Mendoza struck out three and walked one.

For the first time in the series and only the second time in the home stand, Joliet did not have to come-from-behind to win. They jumped on top right away in the first inning as Hector Pellot smacked a two-out solo home run.

River City loaded the bases on two walks and a bunt single in the third with nobody out. Mendoza got Jason Patton to hit into a 4-6-3 double play, but a run scored on the play to tie the game at one. A Stephen Holdren fly out ended the inning.

River City starter Zach Robertson struggled, walking seven. He really came undone in the sixth as he walked three straight with two away. The Rascals brought in Brandon Cunniff and he proceeded to walk Josh Flores to put the Slammers up 4-1.

The score would stay that way. Jeremy Tietze tossed a scoreless seventh inning and Chuck Lukanen and Brian Smith combined to shut down the Rascals in the eighth.

Joliet’s own Ryan Quigley did his thing in the ninth to earn his league leading 25^th save of the year.