CornBelters bounce back with win over Slammers

Posted on June 7, 2017

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters ended a three-game skid with a big sixth inning in a 4-2 win over the Joliet Slammers on Tuesday night at the Corn Crib.

The Slammers scored first with a two-run homer high on the right field berm by Melvin Rodriguez in the fifth inning.

The CornBelters countered in the sixth inning with a pair of walks to start the frame, with both advancing on a Yeixon Ruiz bunt single that bumped the third base bag, and both scoring on a double from Santiago Chirino that bounced over the left center field fence. Ruiz hustled home on a sacrifice fly to shallow left field by Miguel Torres to give the Belters a 3-2 lead.

Both teams had late bases-loaded opportunities but did not score, with the Belters’ chance coming in the seventh and the Slammers stranding three in the eighth.

Chirino provided insurance with a lead-off eighth inning homer for the Belters that just crawled over the right-center field fence.

Scott Sebald (3-0) earned the win in his first start, working six and one-third innings with two earned runs, three hits, no walks and two strikeouts. Shane Bryant (1-3) took the loss, also throwing six and one-third innings with three earned runs, five hits, five walks and one strikeout. Shawn Blackwell pitched the final two innings for his fifth save.

The homestand concludes Wednesday with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch against the Slammers. The game can be heard live on WJBC.com.

The Frontier League announced that the CornBelters swept the weekly honors as Aaron Dudley was named Player of the Week and closer Shawn Blackwell was tabbed Pitcher of the Week.

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