CornBelters tie late, fall at Joliet

Posted on June 29, 2015

By WJBC Staff

JOLIET – The Normal CornBelters battled back for an eighth-inning tie but fell 9-6 to the Joliet Slammers as the hosts completed a three-game sweep on Sunday at Silver Cross Field.

The Slammers tallied twice in the third inning for the game’s first scoring. Alredo Rodriguez drew a lead-off walk from Belters starter Kevin Brahney, was sacrificed to second and went to third on a single by Charlie White. Both runners scored on a double to the right field corner by Nate Roberts.

The CornBelters countered with a fifth inning lead-off home run into the short porch in right field by Ozney Guillen to cut the deficit to 2-1, then added an unearned run scored by Santiago Chirino in the frame to knot the score at 2-2.

Joliet drew two walks in their fifth inning and scored them both on a single to center field by Mike Garza with two outs to regain a 4-2 lead. Another lead-off walk, this time from reliever Horatio Acosta in the sixth inning, came around to score on a double by Russell Moldenhauer, who also came home barely beating a throw on a sacrifice fly to shallow center field by Rodriguez to give the hosts a 6-2 advantage.

The CornBelters cut their deficit to 6-5 in the seventh with a two-run homer by Guillen to right and a single by Mark Micowski plus a throwing error to score Jim Vahalik from third base. The Belters tied the game in the eighth with the first home run of the season from Aaron Dudley, who cleared the park beyond right field.

The Slammers grabbed the lead in the eighth with two singles to lead off the inning off reliever Ross Spurgeon, then scored them both plus an additional run on a single by Jack Cleary, a double by Rodriguez and a base hit by Max Casper.

Kevin McNorton (3-1) earned the win in relief while Spurgeon (1-1) took the loss.

The CornBelters take Monday off before a three-day, four-game series at the Corn Crib against the River City Rascals. The Belters’ probable starting pitchers for Tuesday are right-hander Kevin Johnson (3-1, 3.71 ERA) in the opener and righty Brad Orosey (0-1, 7.27) in the nightcap. First pitch of Game 1 is at 4:05 p.m. with Wednesday and Thursday starts set for 6:35 p.m. at the Corn Crib.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…