Slammers ThunderStuck by ThunderBolts

Devin Shepherd hit a grand slam in the third inning and the Windy City ThunderBolts never looked back on their way to a 14-5 victory over the Slammers Thursday night at Silver Cross Field.

In the final home game of the regular season, the East Division champion Slammers sat three of their key players: Erik Lis, Josh Flores, and Brad Netzel. The ThunderBolts took full advantage.

They jumped on starter Kevin Crimmel early with a run in the first inning on a Shepherd RBI grounder. But it was the third inning that was the Slammers’ undoing.

Windy City scored seven runs in the frame as Shepherd went deep with the bases full for his 10th home run of the season. They weren’t done though as Chad Cregar added a two-RBI double and Brandon Anderson smacked a RBI single.

When the dust cleared, the Slammers found themselves down 8-0. Crimmel lasted only 3.2 innings as he gave up 11 runs on 12 hits. Windy City got three more in the fourth, highlighted by a Jason James two-run double.

They tacked on one more in the fifth and one in the sixth to go ahead 13-0.

Joliet finally got some offense going in the eighth with two down.

Tobi Adeyemi drew a walk and Brandon Peters followed with a single. That brought up the red hot Hector Pellot, who doubled in Adeyemi.

Kyle Maunus proceeded to single home Peters and Pellot as the Slammers pulled to within 10.

A Kris Kasarjian double set up Sean Estand who singled home two to make the score 13-5. That was all for Windy City starter Matt Jernstad who picked up the victory, going seven and two thirds innings and giving up five runs on seven hits. Jernstad walked three and struck out eight.

Windy City tacked on one more in the ninth off catcher Trey Manz who threw two innings in relief.