Slammers Streak Up To Three

Brad Netzel tallied three hits, Hector Pellot made his one hit count, and the Slammers scored four runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Lake Erie Crushers by a final score of 7-3 Tuesday night.

With the win the Slammers match their season high lead of 7.5 games in the East Division and reduce their magic number to reach the playoffs to four.

Jeremy Tietze went four innings in his first professional start, giving up two runs on four hits. Walks hurt Tietze as he issued three free passes with two of them coming around to score.

Ryne Miller entered the game in the fifth and worked around a couple of walks to toss a scoreless inning. The Slammers’ defense let him down in the sixth. Brian Erie started the inning by reaching on a Kyle Maunus error. One out later Zachary Messer doubled him in to give the Crushers a 3-2 lead.

Some two-out lightning from the Slammers tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. With two down, Brandon Peters was hit by a pitch. Sean Estand crushed a ball to left-center for a RBI double. They nearly took the lead when David Fox hit a rocket off of Messer at third. The ball got away but Messer threw Estand out at the plate to end the inning.

It would just be a footnote though as Joliet’s offense exploded in the seventh. Ben Hewett got things started with a sharp single to left. He proceeded to swipe second on a perfect delayed steal. Josh Flores was hit by a pitch and one out later Pellot doubled in both runners to make it 5-3 Slammers.

Erik Lis followed with a RBI single and advanced to second when Collins couldn’t handle the throw to the plate.

Miller tossed three innings of solid relief to pick up the victory. Meanwhile Brian Smith and Ryan Quigley worked perfect eighth and ninth innings respectively.