Slugfest Goes Windy City's Way

The Joliet Slammers (16-14) fell in an 8-1 hole and couldn't recover as they fell 10-8 to the Windy City ThunderBolts (18-13) Wednesday night.

It was a scoreless game through the first three innings. But in the fourth, ex-Slammer Devin Shepherd made his presence known with a two-run home run. Erik Lis responded in the bottom half of the frame with a solo homer to cut the Windy City lead to 2-1.

The top of the fifth was disastrous for Kevin Crimmel and the Slammers. Ryan Basham doubled to start the frame. One out later Nick Kuroczko drew a walk. Then with two away and both runners in scoring position Mike Torres delivered a clutch two-RBI single and Windy City was up 4-1.

They weren't done. Zach Aakhus singled and Shepherd walked. That set up Chad Creagar, who only had one hit in the game. Well, his one hit was a grand slam and just like that it was 8-1.

The Slammers would not back down though. They responded in the bottom of the sixth. John Wagle and Bobby Leeper reached on back-to-back singles. Brad Netzel walked to load the bases with nobody out. After Kyle Maunus struck-out, Lis blooped a single to center that drove in Wagle. Sean Estand followed with a single of his own to score Leeper. A Josh Flores sacrifice fly cut the Windy City lead to 8-4.

Defense let the Slammers down in the seventh as two errors helped the ThunderBolts get some much needed insurance.

Torres singled and Aakhus doubled to start the inning. Shepherd hit a ball into the hole at short; Netzel fielded it and made a wild throw home. The run scored and the ThunderBolts had runners at second and third.

One out later, Chris Wade hit a grounder to Estand at third. Estand came home with the throw and they got the runner in a pickle. The Slammers got the out but reliever Kyle Kriech made an ill-advised throw to second base that got away. Another run scored and it was 10-4 ThunderBolts.

Joliet got both runs back with a Bobby Leeper two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh.

They made a last attempt at a rally in the eighth inning. Lis and Estand drew walks and Josh Flores doubled off the top of the center field wall to score Lis and make the score 10-7.

A David Fox RBI grounder got the Slammers to within two, but Flores was picked off third with pinch hitter Kris Kasarjian at the plate. That stopped the momentum as Kasarjian popped out to end the inning.

Joliet went down 1-2-3 in the ninth as they dropped to 1.5 games back of Windy City in the East Division. The two teams play Thursday night as the ZOOperstars will be in town and $1.50 beers will be available. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. as former major league pitcher Billy Petrick will be on the mound.