Game Recaps |

JOLIET WINS FIRST EVER OVER THE FLORENCE FREEDOM

Slammers propelled to victory by starter Chuck Lofgren who struck out eight through seven innings…

(Joliet, IL) – Joliet manager Mike Breyman said starter Chuck Lofgren (2-0) will not overpower you.

However, the lefty stuck out eight; overpowering the Florence Freedom (3-4) through seven innings, and leading the Joliet Slammers (4-3) to a 6-4 win in the first victory in franchise history against the Freedom Friday night.

Florence got on the board in the first inning after Eric Groff crushed a ball to left field for a solo home run. It was the only lead of the night for the Freedom, as Joliet would respond in the third with three runs.

Grant DeBruin led off the third with a single and Tyler Goodro followed him to the bases after getting hit by a pitch. Matthew Scruggs would come to the dish and drive in the Slammers’ first run of the ballgame on a RBI single.

Javan Williams filled the bases after a beautiful bunt down the third base line that would rest inches from the chalk in fair territory. After Nate Wilder popped out to the catcher, Michael Wing drove in two more to make it a 3-1 game on a two RBI single.

Florence would get one run back in the sixth, but Joliet would respond in the seventh with three more runs to make it 6-2 Slammers after seven innings.

The Freedom made things interesting in the eighth after picking up two runs on a Kyle Maunus throwing error, but Shawn Kale would strike out Byron Wiley, Jacob Tanis and Ryan Skellie consecutively to limit the damage and end the inning.

Justin Erasmus would then close things down in the ninth for Joliet, picking up his third save of the year and securing the first win over the Freedom in club history.

The Slammers look to make it the second win in franchise history Saturday with Brett Zawacki (0-1) on the hill. Florence sends out Brandon Mathes (0-1) with the first pitch coming at 6:05 p.m.

The Joliet Slammers pregame show starts at 5:50 on AM 1340 WJOL and the game can be viewed on Ustream as well. Fireworks follow Saturday’s action at Silver Cross Field.

Single game tickets, season tickets, loaded ticket packages and group outings for the 2013 season are available now by calling 815-722-2287. Click here to download the team’s complete 2013 schedule, click here for the full promotional schedule and click here to buy single game tickets. To stay up to date on the latest news, make sure to like the Slammers on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

JOLIET LOSES FIRST ROAD SERIES OF YEAR

Posted on May 23, 2013

Williams file

Slammers’ offense is shutdown as Gateway touches up starter Evan Anundsen for five runs…

Box Score

(Sauget, IL) – 2011 Frontier League All-Star Chris Enourato looked like an All-Star Thursday night.

Gateway Grizzlies’ starter Enourato (1-0) shutout the Joliet offense through seven innings, only giving up two hits and striking out five as the Grizzlies (4-2) won the rubber match of the three game series by a score of 8-1.

The Slammers (3-3) had ace Evan Anundsen (1-1) on the mound who only lasted four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits.

The Slammers have yet to score first in a contest this year as Gateway again struck first Thursday night in the bottom of the second inning. First baseman Jon Myers hit a solo home run to make it a 1-0 ballgame.

In the bottom of the third the Grizzlies would touch-up Anundsen for three more runs. Michael Pair led off with a home run and Jonathan Johnson would follow with a single. Chris McClendon drove Johnson home on an RBI double and then Jose Flores would follow McClendon by driving him home with an RBI double of his own.

It was 4-0 Gateway after three innings.

The Grizzlies would add three more runs, one in the fourth and two more coming in the fifth to make it a 7-0 ballgame.

Joliet would load the bases in the eighth inning after starter Enourato exited the game. However the Slammers could only bring home one run on a bases-loaded walk to Kyle Maunus.

Alex Guthrie would take that run right back in the home half of the eighth with the third solo home run for the Grizzlies.

Joliet heads back to Silver Cross Field Friday to kick off a three-game, weekend series with the Florence Freedom. Left-handed pitcher Chuck Lofgren (1-0) gets the call for the Slammers and the Freedom will send out right-hander Justice French (0-1).

First pitch is 7:05 p.m. and the pre game on AM 1340 WJOL is at 6:50 p.m.

It’s Country Night and fireworks follow the game!

SLAMMERS HANG ON FOR FIRST ROAD WIN OF YEAR

Posted on May 22, 2013

Kimes file

Joliet starter Corey Kimes holds Gateway to only two runs on five hits through seven innings…

Box Score

(Sauget, IL) – Joliet starter Corey Kimes is the Slammers’ fifth starter, but after holding the Gateway Grizzlies to two runs on five hits, he pitched well enough to be an ace.

Kimes also struck out four batters, pitching into the eighth inning as Joliet (3-2) held onto a 3-2 victory over Gateway (3-2) for the first road victory of the year.

The offense also woke up just enough in game number two scoring three runs, after being shutout, 2-0 in the first game of this three game series. The Grizzlies would strike first, but the Slammers would respond and never look back.

In the bottom of the first with the bases loaded, right fielder Jet Butler hit a line drive that hit the field umpire, scoring Jonathan Johnson from third and refilling the bases after the dead ball. But Jon Myers followed by grounding into an inning ending double play.

Grant DeBruin and Goose Kallunki led off the top of the second with back-to-back singles. Tyler Goodro moved both runners over with a sacrifice. After Matthew Scruggs grounded out to third, Javan Williams delivered a two-out, RBI single, tying the game.

The game would remain tied until the sixth inning. Michael Wing and Kyle Maunus led off the inning with back-to-back singles and Seth Schwindenhammer drove in Wing on a RBI single and was thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double. Grant DeBruin would hit a sacrifice fly to drive Maunus home to make it a 3-1 ballgame.

The Grizzlies would add one run in the bottom of the sixth but the combination of relievers Lucas Goodgion, Chase Doremus and Justin Erasmus would carry the Slammers to their first road win of the year.

Joliet goes for the series victory on Thursday night with Evan Anundsen (1-0) getting the rubber match start against Chris Enourato for Gateway.

First pitch is 7:05 p.m. and the pre game on AM 1340 WJOL is at 6:50 p.m.

SLAMMERS SHUTOUT IN FIRST ROAD GAME OF YEAR

Posted on May 21, 2013

Joliet’s four errors prove fatal as Gateway scores all runs unearned…

Box Score

(Sauget, IL) – The Joliet Slammers (2-2) fell to the Gateway Grizzlies (3-1) 2-0 at GCS Ballpark in the first road game of the 2013 season.

The Slammers were their own worst enemy Tuesday night as they committed four errors, as both of the runs the Grizzlies scored were unearned.

Gateway starter Tucker Jensen was stellar tonight, throwing seven innings, allowing only four hits and striking out nine. At the end of the game, the Slammers struck out a total of 12 times.

It was a pitchers’ duel through the first four innings as both Jensen and Slammers’ starter Jacob Sanchez kept both teams off the board. In the bottom of the fifth however, the Grizzlies chalked up the game’s first run.

Jon Myers led off the inning with a double. After Vladimir Frias grounded out to third, Antone DeJesus reached on an error by second baseman Nate Wilder, allowing Myers to score.

In the sixth, the Grizzlies added the game’s second and last run on a play that included two more Slammers errors. Jacob Sanchez committed an error on a throw to first and first baseman Goose Kallunki followed that mistake by making a poor throw to third, allowing Landon Hernandez to score.

The Slammers struggled at the plate tonight as well, striking out a total of 12 times.

Game number two is Wednesday with Corey Kimes on the Hill for Joliet and Tim Brown opposing him for Gateway. First pitch at 7:05 and the pre game on AM 1340 WJOL is at 6:50 p.m.

TRAVERSE CITY TOPS JOLIET IN FINAL GAME OF THREE GAME SERIES

Posted on May 19, 2013

Walks, missed offensive opportunities and sloppy play, too much for Slammers to overcome…

Box Score

(Joliet, IL) – The Joliet Slammers (2-1) walked a combined eight Traverse City Beach Bums (1-2) and also stranded eight base runners in a 6-2 loss in the final contest of this three game series.

In addition to missing the strike zone and dropping offensive opportunities, the Slammers’ second baseman Nate Wilder committed two errors back to back in the top of the sixth inning.

Both errors were on ground balls and the first allowed catcher Chris Cowell to score and the second allowed centerfielder Scott Woodward to reach, which brought up last year’s MVP and All-Star Jose Vargus to the plate.

On the first pitch he saw, Vargus crushed a ball to left center that bounced off the wall, bringing in two runs, making it a 5-0 ballgame. It was a key turning point in the game and turned out to be insurmountable as Joliet suffered their first loss of the year.

Like every game this series, the Beach Bums struck first, scoring one run in the third. The difference in this game is Traverse City scored a second run in the fifth to extend their lead to 2-0. After picking up the three in the sixth, the Beach Bums added one more run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to center field from shortstop Andrew Cohn.

Starter Scott Dunn for Traverse City also was a big reason Joliet could not pick up their first series sweep over the Beach Bums as he tossed seven shutout innings, striking out five and only allowed four hits.

The Slammers would try to climb back into the game, scoring a run in the eighth and one more in the ninth, but it turned out to be too little too late as the Beach Bums limited the damage in both frames, while preventing a series sweep.

However, Joliet does earn the series win over Traverse City to start the 2013 campaign, winning the first and second games, 5-2 and 6-3 respectively.

The Slammers hit the road for three games against the Gateway Grizzlies with the first game on Tuesday, May 20. Jacob Sanchez is on the mound for Joliet and Tucker Jensen for Gateway counters him.

First pitch for all three games comes at 7:05 p.m. with the pre game show on AM 1340 WJOL, starting at 6:50 p.m. each night.

STARTING PITCHING LIFTS JOLIET PAST TRAVERSE CITY AGAIN

Posted on May 18, 2013

Slammers make it two in a row and try to sweep the Beach Bums out of town tomorrow afternoon…

Video Archive Part One
Video Archive Part Two

Box Score

(Joliet, IL) – Joliet Slammers’ starting pitcher Chuck Lofgren knew it would be hard to match Evan Anundsen’s seven-inning, nine strikeout performance the previous night.

After tossing six and two third innings, while only allowing 2 runs off 5 hits, Lofgren may not have topped Anundsen’s performance on opening night, but he definitely threw just as well.

Lofgren (1-0) was a big reason the Slammers (2-0) beat the Traverse City Beach Bums (0-2) for the second straight night at Silver Cross Field. Also Grant DeBruin was equally hot in his professional debut, picking up not only his first career hit but also driving in three runs, going 3-4 on the night.

The second game of this opening weekend series started just like the first game, with the Beach Bums striking first. After two quick outs recorded by Lofgren in the first, Jose Vargus hit a two-out single and first baseman Chase Burch followed by driving Vargus home on a RBI double.

The 1-0 Beach Bums lead did not last long as the Slammers responded in the bottom of the second inning with three runs of their own.

Right fielder Seth Schwindenhammer and third baseman Kyle Maunus started the frame with walks, bringing up Grant DeBruin who got his first career hit, loading the bases for Goose Kallunki. Kallunki followed his 2-3, 3 RBI performance on opening night by hitting a two-RBI single in the second which cleared the bases after Matt Howard committed an error in center field, allowing DeBruin to score.

The Slammers picked up two more runs in the home half of the third after DeBruin topped his first career hit by driving in two on a two-out single. It was a 5-1 Slammers lead after three innings of play.

DeBruin, however was not done. In the bottom of the fifth he would drive in one more run on another two-out, RBI single to give the Slammers a 6-1 lead.

The Beach Bums would crawl back into the game, picking up two runs, one in the seventh and one in the eighth, but it would not be enough as the Slammers held on, 6-3 for their second straight victory over Traverse City.

Joliet goes for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon with first pitch at 2:05 p.m. Right-handed pitcher Brett Zawacki is on the hill for Joliet, he is opposed by six foot, Scott Dunn for the Beach Bums.

It’s Bark in the Park Day at the yard! Bring your furry friend for no extra charge.

The pre-game show on AM 1340 WJOL and on the Slammers Ustream channel, ustream.tv/jolietslammers, is at 1:50 p.m.

Single game tickets, season tickets, loaded ticket packages and group outings for the 2013 season are available now by calling 815-722-2287. Opening Night is Friday, May 17 at 7:05 p.m. as the Slammers take on the Traverse City Beach Bums. Click here to download the team’s complete 2013 schedule, click here for the full promotional schedule and click here to buy single game tickets. To stay up to date on the latest news, make sure to like the Slammers on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

SLAMMERS VICTORIOUS ON OPENING NIGHT IN FRONT OF MORE THAN 3,400 FANS

Posted on May 18, 2013

Celebration

Strong pitching, led by starter Evan Anundsen carries the Slammers to the win…

Box Score

Video Archive Part One

Video Archive Part Two

(Joliet, IL) – Joliet Slammers’ starter Evan Anundsen received a good birthday present at Silver Cross Field, a 5-2 opening night victory over the Traverse City Beach Bums.

The twenty-five year-old, right-handed pitcher was a big reason the Slammers (1-0) came away with the win against the Beach Bums (0-1) as Anundsen received the victory, recording nine strikeouts in six innings of work.

The Beach Bums however drew first blood in the fourth inning, after three scoreless innings by both Anundsen and Beach Bums’ starter Jacob Clem.

Scott Woodward led off the fourth with a single. One out later he stole second base and went to third on a wild pitch. He would get caught in a pickle on a Chase Burch grounder though and was retired 5-2-5-1-6-1. Burch went to second on the play and came around to score off an RBI single from Zach Kometani.

The Slammers would respond in a big way in the home half of the fourth. With one away, Nate Wilder singled and was moved over to third by a Michael Wing double. Jerod Yakubik tied up the game, driving Wilder home on a RBI single.

Seth Schwindenhammer hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 2-1 ballgame and Goose Kallunki drove in the third run of the inning on a RBI single.

The Beach Bums would get one run back in the top of the fifth, but the Slammers would add two big insurance runs off the bat of Kallunki in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 5-2 ballgame.

The five runs would prove to be more than enough as the Slammers bullpen closed things down in the seventh, eighth and ninth. Shawn Kale picked up three punch-outs in the eighth and Jacob Sanchez recorded his first professional save in the ninth.

The Slammers take on the Beach Bums tomorrow in the second game of this three game weekend series with Chuck Lofgren on the bump for Joliet and Johnny Omahen starting for Traverse City. Game time is at 6:05 p.m. It’s 80’s Prom Night at the yard and the first 1,000 fans receive a magnet schedule courtesy of Elegant Limo.

Single game tickets, season tickets, loaded ticket packages and group outings for the 2013 season are available by calling 815-722-2287 or stopping by the box office. Stay up to date on the latest news with the Slammers on Facebook and on Twitter.

SLAMMERS FALL TO NORMAL IN FIRST EXHIBITION GAME OF THE YEAR

Posted on May 7, 2013

Kyle Maunus

Pitching finishes the game strong for Joliet…

(Joliet, IL) – The Joliet Slammers came up just short in the first spring training game of the year Tuesday, falling to the Normal CornBelters by a final of 4-3.

Nearly 3,000 kids from area schools turned out for Education Day presented by Lewis University.

The score of this 11-inning tune-up game at Silver Cross Field really did not matter, with a spring roster of 36 that needs to be cut down to at most 24 players, what did matter was what first-year Manager Mike Breyman thought of his club’s performance.

“I saw some things I liked and some things I didn’t like,” Breyman said. “We seemed a bit timid early, the guys just need to go out and play.”

The CornBelters jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning off of a sacrifice fly to right field by catcher David Remedios, scoring center fielder Matt Wright on the play.

After a quick one, two, three bottom half of the first inning for Joliet, Normal was not done in the top of the second, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring two more runs.

The bases were loaded after the two runs had already scored but Joliet starting pitcher Seth Lintz managed to strand the Normal base runners after getting the sixth and seventh batters he faced in the inning to strikeout and the eighth to groundout to short.

“Things could have been a lot worse,” Breyman said. “In the second inning we gave up two runs but it easily could have been four.”

Slammers’ pitcher Corey Kimes pitched two scoreless innings in the third and fourth, but Normal made the game 4-0 after scoring one run in the fifth off right handed pitcher Seth Marcus.

Joliet did manage to score three runs with two coming in the 10^th inning.

Another bright spot for Joliet was left fielder Seth Schwindenhammer who went 2-4 at the plate with a double in the fourth and a line drive single in the 10^th inning. Schwindenhammer also scored in that inning to make the game 4-3.

Joliet’s pitching was also strong after the fifth, holding the CornBelters scoreless for the remainder of the contest.

The Slammers have an off day tomorrow and will have a second crack against the CornBelters on Thursday in Normal, IL.

You can listen to Thursday’s exhibition game on the Slammers Ustream channel, ustream.tv/jolietslammers. First pitch is at 10:05 a.m. Central Time.

JOLIET SWEEPS CORNBELTERS IN DOUBLE HEADER TO END SEASON ON HIGH NOTE

Posted on September 2, 2012

Outstanding pitching and home runs lead Slammers to two straight wins…

Bart Zeller Interview

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

(Normal, IL) – Jacob Sanchez (5-2) and Tommy Mendoza (5-7) tossed complete games and Kyle Maunus drove in a total of six runs as the Joliet Slammers (37-58) swept the Normal CornBelters (29-67) in a double header to finish the 2012 regular season on Sunday.

The Slammers won game one 7-1 and game two 7-0.

In game one Joliet jumped on the board with three runs in the fourth inning. Abel Nieves started the inning with a walk. Two outs later Josh Lyon walked as well. David Christensen singled sharply down the left field line to drive in Nieves and Andrew Brauer doubled home Lyon and Christensen.

Normal got their only run of the twin bill in the fifth inning of game one on a Pat McKenna home run.

But Joliet responded in the sixth. Erik Lis got things rolling with a single. Then Maunus stepped to the plate and launched a home run to right field to put Joliet up 5-1. Lyon drew another walk and it was Christensen’s turn to go yard as the Slammers extended the lead to 7-1.

That’s all the run support Sanchez needed as he went the distance of seven innings, scattering eight hits and giving up the lone run. He walked one and struck out four to earn the victory.

In game two the Slammers wasted no time taking the lead. In the first inning Brad Netzel was hit by a pitch to start the game. One out later Nieves drew a walk. A grounder moved both runners over and with two away Maunus singled them in to put Joliet up 2-0. In the fourth inning Maunus continued his offensive barrage as he smashed a solo home run, his 12^th of the season.

They would tack on another run in the fifth when Andrew Brauer drove in William Hill with a ground-out.

The 4-0 lead turned into a 7-0 lead in the seventh. Netzel was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Brauer reached on a fielder’s choice and Nieves drew another walk. With two away Maunus singled in a run for his sixth RBI of the double header. It was his 45^th RBI of the year, matching Erik Lis for the most on the team. Christensen drove in a run with a single and Maunus scored the seventh run of the game on a wild pitch.

Game two was all about Mendoza on the mound. The former fifth round draft pick went the distance, giving up only four hits and no runs. He walked three and struck out four in the victory.

Joliet finishes the 2012 season in sixth place in the west division at 37-58. Abel Nieves finished second in the Frontier League with a .320 batting average. Joliet had four players signed to affiliated ball (Gaby Hernandez, Daniel Carela, Amalio Diaz and Geoff Brown) on the year compared to three (Aaron Dott, Ryan Quigley and Chris Pack) in their championship season of 2011.

SLAMMERS FALL IN EXTRA INNINGS TO CORNBELTERS

Posted on August 31, 2012

Joliet rallies to tie game in ninth but Normal prevails in 10 innings…

Box Score

(Normal, IL) – Randy Wells walked with the bases loaded in the 10^th inning as the Normal CornBelters (29-65) defeated the Joliet Slammers (35-58) by a score of 5-4 on Friday night.

The game was not without drama as the Slammers entered the ninth trailing 4-1. With one out Andrew Brauer tallied his fourth hit of the game with a single to right-center. Then Josh Lyon smacked a pinch-hit two-run home run to make it a one run game. With two down Brad Netzel was hit by the pitch. Then Abel Nieves hit a grounder to Wells at third. Wells threw low to first and the ball got away. Netzel scored on the play to tie the game at four.

But Normal won the game in the 10^th against Joliet reliever Chase Doremus (2-4). Ernie Banks doubled to start the inning. A walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Wells who made up for his earlier mistake by drawing the game-winning walk.

Joliet’s offense struggled early in the game and Normal jumped out to a 4-0 lead. They tallied two runs in the second against Joliet starter Jim Schult. Back-to-back walks began the second inning and the CornBelters pulled off a double steal. On the steal attempt of third, Matt Mirabal’s throw went into left field, allowing a run to score. Another walk and a Schult error loaded the bases with nobody out. One out later Schult walked in a run and was removed from the game.

Mike Barsotti came on in relief and got the final two outs of the inning so there was no further damage.

However the CornBelters got to Barsotti for two runs in the third. Sam Judah started the inning with a walk and one out later Wells hit a home run to make it 4-0 in favor of Normal.

After that Barsotti settled down as he ate up innings with five frames of two-hit ball.

The Slammers tallied a run in the seventh on a Matt Mirabal RBI fielder’s choice before mounting their rally to tie the game in the ninth.

The Joliet pitching staff walked a franchise record 11 batters in the loss.

On Saturday the Slammers will send RHP Jacob Sanchez (4-2, 3.09 ERA) to the mound as they look to snap their 15-game losing streak. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. and all the action can be heard on AM 1340 WJOL and online at www.wjol.com.