Pregame Interview with Bart Zeller
(Joliet, IL)- The Slammers kept rolling Sunday afternoon at Silver Cross Field in an 8-4 win over the Rockford RiverHawks, securing the series two games to one, their third consecutive after sweeping the Road Warriors and the Schaumburg Boomers.
After a scoreless first inning, Rockford put two runners on-base, and Justino Cuevas knocked an RBI double to take a one run lead. David Christensen responded for Joliet in the home half, sending a monster home run onto the Miller Lite Party Deck in left field to tie the game.
Joliet took the lead in the third and never gave it back. With Patrick Norris on base, Brad Netzel slapped a triple to make it 2-1. Slammers hitting broke the game open in the fourth when Hawks pitcher Ziggy VanderWall loaded the bases with nobody out, and allowed four runs courtesy of a Eric McGee walk, a Josh Lyon single, and an RBI groundout by Netzel for a 6-1 advantage.
Rockford mounted a comeback in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings with one run per frame to cut the lead down to two runs, but Erik Lis effectively ended the contest in the seventh by slugging a two-run homer for the final 8-4 tally.
Matt Sommo earned the win through six innings of work and gave up just three runs despite allowing ten hits. Chase Doremus, Brian Smith, and Mike Barsotti each tossed an inning of relief to finish off the Hawks. VanderWall was stuck with the loss, surrendering six runs to Joliet through three.
Joliet has an off-day Monday but resumes action on Tuesday when they visit the Traverse City Beach Bums for three games in Michigan. Fans can listen to the game on AM 1340 WJOL with Aaron Morse calling the action.
