Slammers Snap Skid With A Key Win Over Traverse City

Kyle Maunus hit a two run home run to put the Joliet Slammers (49-34) up for good and Ryan Quigley earned his Frontier League record tying 26^th save in a 5-3 victory over the Traverse City Beach Bums (42-41) Saturday night.

With the win the Slammers move to 5.5 games ahead of the Lake Erie Crushers in the East Division.

It was the Slammers getting on the board first Saturday night. Brandon Peters was hit by a pitch to start the second inning. Sean Estand hit into a fielder’s choice and Tobi Adeyemi drew a walk. Then with two away Josh Flores looped a double down the left field line to score Estand and put Joliet up 1-0.

Kevin Crimmel (6-4) walked a tightrope as he allowed a total of five runners over the first three innings but left them all stranded. However Tom Zebroski tied the game at one with a solo home run to start the fourth.

Then Chase Burch gave the Beach Bums the lead with a solo shot in the fifth. Traverse City got two runners in scoring position with only one out but Josh Flores caught a Jeff Flagg fly ball and gunned down J.T. Hall at the plate to end the inning.

Joliet responded in the fifth as Hector Pellot started the rally with a double. He advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on an Erik Lis RBI single. Kyle Maunus followed with a two run jack for his 14^th home run of the season and it was 4-2 Slammers.

They would chase starter Bryan Banes (9-3) in the inning Tobi Adeyemi and Ben Hewett both singled with two outs. Josh Flores would ground out to end the frame but the damage was done.

Crimmel got the victory as he went five innings, scattering seven hits, giving up two runs, both earned, walking two and striking out four.

Chris Pack entered the game in the sixth. He walked Zebroski to start the inning. One out later Stephen Shults doubled Zebroski in to cut the Slammers’ lead to one.

Pack tossed a scoreless seventh and Chuck Lukanen worked around a lead-off walk to shut down the Beach Bums in the eighth.

The Slammers played some small ball to get an insurance run in the eighth. Brad Netzel got things going with a single and proceeded to steal second base.

Hector Pellot bunted him over and the Beach Bums intentionally walked Erik Lis. Lis attempted to steal second and was caught stealing. But Netzel came scampering home on the play for another stolen base and a 5-3 Joliet lead.

Joliet native Ryan Quigley hit a couple batters but persevered to earn his record-tying 26^th save.

The Slammers look to take the series Sunday afternoon as “Captain” Jake Renshaw (10-4, 3.30 ERA) takes the mound. It’s is a giveaway that fans can’t afford to miss.

The Slammers are giving out a team photo to the first 1,000 fans through the gates. The game begins at 2:05 p.m. with gates opening at 1:00. Plus, it’s a Senior Sunday so fans 55 and older can purchase a reserved seat for only $5.

After the game all kids can run the bases and the team will have a post-game autograph session. Stick around afterwards because the Slammers will be hosting “Guns and Hoses,” a charity baseball game between the Joliet Police Department and the Joliet Fire Department.