Slammers Sweep!

Brian Fowler mystified the Rockford's offense and Brad Netzel tallied two hits and scored a run in Joliet’s 3-1 victory Wednesday night.

With the win the Slammers swept the double header and the series to pull to within a half game of the Windy City ThunderBolts and are a season-high three games over .500.

The Slammers grabbed the lead in the third inning. Lee Rubin hit a triple off the left field wall to start the frame. Bobby Leeper grounded out to score the run and Joliet was up 1-0.

Fowler had the RiverHawks off balance for most of the night. The lefty out of Chico State University went 5 1/3rd innings, giving up one run on five hits, walking two and striking-out three as he picked up the win in his Slammer debut.

The Slammers got some two-out lightning in the fifth. Netzel doubled and came around to score on a Kris Kasarjian double that hit the base of the wall in right-center field.

The RiverHawks scored their lone run of the night in the top of the sixth on a Matt Greener solo home run. After a Luis Parache double, Bart Zeller elected to bring in right-hander Jeremy Tietze.

Tietze walked the first batter he faced but made a nifty catch on a pop-up behind the mound to get out of the jam.

Joliet used more two-out offense to get a big run in the bottom of the sixth. Josh Flores drew a walk and promptly stole second base. The throw was wild and he advanced to third. After Lee Rubin drew a walk, he tried to steal second. Another poor throw allowed Flores to score and it was 3-1.

Ryan Quigley made it stay that way despite loading the bases in the seventh as he got his ninth save of the season in nine attempts.

The battle for first place begins Wednesday night as the Slammers greet the ThunderBolts for the first of three games at Silver Cross Field.

First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and if the Slammers win, everyone in attendance wins a free ticket to the next Wednesday home game.