Who's The Bum Now? Traverse City Knocks Off Slammers In Opener

The Traverse City Beach Bums (33-31) used two big innings to beat the Slammers (36-27) by a final score of 6-2 Saturday night in front of a record crowd of 5,179 fans at Silver Cross Field.

The Beach Bums got to Slammers starter Brian Fowler (4-2) in the fourth.

With one out Jeff Flagg doubled. Greg Burns followed with a grounder to right field that Reid Chenworth stumbled trying to get to.

Fowler hit a man and Hector Bernal singled in Burns, putting runners at the corners with two in and only one out. A Chris Kay sacrifice fly put Traverse City up 3-0.

The Bums went on to score three more in the sixth.

Fowler walked Burns to start the frame. One out later Bernal singled and with two outs Zack Pace came up big with an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0.

That chased Fowler and in came Billy Petrick, but things just got worse for the Slammers.

A passed ball scored one run. Petrick then struck out Matt Brown but on the play there was another passed ball and another run scored as Brown scampered to first.

A fielder’s choice ended the inning but the damage was done as the Slammers found themselves in a 6-0 hole.

With the loss the Slammers winning streak of three games was snapped.