Slammers Win a Nail-biter

First Sean Estand saved the game with his bare hand. Then he won the game with his bat.

Estand tallied the team’s third hit of the game when he singled home Brian Smith in the bottom of the 10^thinning as the Joliet Slammers (31-23) stunned the Lake Erie Crushers (25-29) by a final score of 2-1 Thursday night.

It looked gloomy for the Slammers in the top of the 10th as the Crushers had runners on the corners with two out.

Kyle Shaffer hit a grounder that took a funny hop over the mound and towards the outfield grass. But Brad Netzel was able to get to it and make the throw to Estand at second. Estand, making his first start of the year at second base, barehanded Netzel's throw and the Slammers were out of the inning.

It was a nail-biter from the start as the Crushers left 13 men on base in the game and outhit the Slammers 9-3.

Slammers’ starter Ryne Miller continued his excellent pitching as he went six innings, scattering seven hits, giving up one run, walking two and striking out two.

Joliet grabbed the early lead in the fourth inning despite not tallying a hit in the frame.

Josh Flores got things started by drawing a walk. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Netzel walked, Erik Lis hit into a 3-6 fielder’s choice to drive in Flores for his team leading 44th RBI of the season.

Miller shut the Crushers down for the first six innings and at one point retired eight in a row. He worked out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the sixth to preserve the 1-0 lead.

But Jodam Rivera homered off Miller to start the seventh and the game was tied at one. The very next batter singled so Bart Zeller brought Chuck Lukanen in to relieve Miller. Lukanen got Zac Miller to pop out to third for out number one on a failed bunt attempt.

Lukanen walked Patrick Norris and a Jereme Milons fly ball put runners on the corners with two away. Another walk loaded the bases for Kellen Kulbacki who grounded out to second and the Slammers escaped their second straight bases loaded jam.

A bizarre play helped Joliet’s own Ryan Quigley preserve the tie in the ninth. Pinch Hitter Chris Luick singled to start the frame. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.

After Milons struck out Quigley intentionally walked Davis. Kulbacki stepped to the plate and on a return throw to the mound from catcher Trey Manz, the ball got away. Luckily Netzel was there to back the play up and he threw out Luick trying to advance to third.

Joliet left two runners of their own stranded in the ninth as they had no answers for the Crushers’ pitching staff.

Thomas Campbell went five innings of one-hit ball for Lake Erie. Travis Risser tossed 3 and 2/3rds shutout innings of his own before the Crushers brought in their closer Ruben Flores.

The Slammers did the same with Quigley and in the battle of the closers Quigley got the defensive help from the aforementioned Estand in the tenth inning to bail the Slammers out of the jam.

Then in the bottom of the tenth Kris Kasarjian walked to lead-off the inning. Kyle Maunus attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt but Flores booted it and everyone was safe.

Zeller pinch ran for Kasarjian with pitcher Brian Smith. Then Trey Manz did move the runners over with a bunt and Estand stepped to the plate.

Estand got a pitch belt high and crushed it to deep left over the drawn-in outfield to win the game and send the Thirsty Thursday crowd home happy.

With the win the Slammers have matched their season best eight games over .500 and have also matched their season best 2 and ½ games advantage in the East Division over the Traverse City Beach Bums and the Windy City ThunderBolts.