Slammers Sneak By Bums

David Fox singled in two runs to cap off a four-run seventh inning as the Joliet Slammers earned their 21st comeback win of the year in a 6-4 victory over the Traverse City Beach Bums Monday afternoon.

Kevin Crimmel pitched well enough to get the win as he made a spot start with Andrew Moss pushed back a day following his no-hitter. The rookie out of Villanova went seven innings, giving up four runs — three earned — on five hits, walking none and striking out a season high eight.

But it was the Beach Bums taking the early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning. The Slammers couldn’t get much offense going for the first few innings against Bryan Banes and Traverse City tacked on one more in the fourth.

The Slammers finally started to make a push in the fifth. With two outs and nobody on, Bobby Leeper bunted his way to first. Josh Flores drew a walk and Brad Netzel singled in Leeper to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Then with runners at the corners, Netzel stole second. On the throw to second base Flores raced home and the Slammers pulled off a run-scoring double steal.

A Flagg home run off Crimmel in the seventh gave the Beach Bums a 4-2 lead, but the bottom half of the frame would be their undoing.

Against reliever Scott Reid, Trey Manz drew a walk. Then Leeper hit what appeared to be a routine double play ball that Hector Bernal booted, faling to get anyone out.

Flores showed why he’s the fastest player in the league as he beat out what was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt. With the bases loaded and nobody out Netzel came up huge again with a game-tying single to left.

He stole second and, with one away, the Beach Bums intentionally walked Erik Lis. Fox drove them both in with a single, putting the Slammers up 6-4.

Joliet native Ryan Quigley had no trouble nailing down his league leading 20th save in the ninth.

With the win the Slammers have matched their season high of 2 1/2 games up in the East Division on the Windy City ThunderBolts. Traverse City falls to 3 1/2 back.