By: Matthew Gustafson
JOLIET, IL – Zac Wescott made history in Joliet Thursday, tying the Frontier League all-time wins record, as the Slammers took down the Boomers for the second time in the same night.
Matthew Warkentin led Joliet (25-29) to an early lead, drawing a walk with two outs before stealing second base and advancing to third on a passed ball. Antonio Valdez brought him home with a single up the middle, giving the Slammers a 1-0 lead.
The Slammers extended their lead two innings later on another RBI from Valdez. Jeissy De La Cruz was hit by a pitch and Warkentin drew his second walk of the game to put runners on first and second, then Valdez singled through the right side to score De La Cruz and put Joliet up 2-0.
The jailbirds broke out the bats again the next inning. Jonathan Sierra led off with a walk before advancing to third base on a Victor Nova double down the left field line. Cal Hejza singled to left field, scoring Sierra, to give the Slammers a 3-0 advantage.
Schaumburg (29-25) scored its first run of the game in the final inning, the seventh, on an inside the park home run to right-center field by Anthony Calarco.
Joliet got its second win of the day, 3-1, as Zac Westcott finished off the Boomers to pitch a complete game. The win is Wescott’s fifty-first in the Frontier League, tying the league’s all-time record set by Aaron Ledbetter with the Washington Wild Things in 2008.
Westcott allowed three hits and one earned run while striking out eight batters in seven innings pitched. Boomers starter Jackson Hickert recorded the loss after allowing four hits and two earned runs with five strikeouts in three innings.
The Slammers will travel down I-55 to face the Gateway Grizzlies tomorrow, beginning their final series before the all-star break. This year’s Frontier League All-Star Game will be hosted by the Quebec Capitales.
Baseball will return to Slammers Stadium on Friday, July 19, as the Slammers celebrate Super Hero Night with post game fireworks following their matchup with the Windy City ThunderBolts. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.
For information on season tickets, premium suites or group outings, please visit the Slammers’ official website at www.jolietslammers.com.
