Joliet a Bear to Handle for Schaumburg

The Schaumburg Flyers were hoping Santa Claus would bring them a victory against the Joliet Jackhammers as they took the field Monday night kicking off a three-game set. All spirits were high as the Christmas in July promotion got the night underway. Unfortunately, the Grinch would show up and make his presence felt as starting pitcher Alain Quijano struggled to find the plate. Joliet came into the game losing their last three to the Flyers at Alexian Field and hitting just .212 against Schaumburg this season with one home run and eight RBI’s in three games. By the looks of things, the Jackhammers were saving up all their hits and runs for this evening’s matchup.

The Jackhammers got off to a quick start as Quijano would walk two and give up a two-run double to Freddie Thon in the top half of the first. That was all the Jackhammers would need to rattle Quijano. On the other side of the field, Bear Bay (5-4, 3.56 ERA) didn’t need much to get settled in. One of the only bright spots on the evening was Josh Burrus’ solo shot over the center field scoreboard in the second, which cut the lead to 2-1.

The score remained that way until the top of the fifth as Thon would hit his second double in as many at-bats and drive in his third run of the night. Quijano would depart after 4 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs, five hits, and walking a season high seven batters. After an encouraging strikeout to get out of a bases loaded jam left by Quijano, Matt Elliott and the bullpen appeared to have a shot at keeping the game close. Just as fast as the defense got off the field, though, they would come back on just as quick as Bay needed only eight pitches to retire the Flyers in order in their half of the fifth. The bullpen needed to work overtime tonight and it wasn’t pretty. The Jackhammer offense would not let up on the bullpen as the Flyers relievers would pitch a combined 4 1/3 innings surrendering twelve hits and nine earned runs. The middle of the Jackhammers lineup would go a combined 8-for-13 accounting for nine runs batted in and seven runs scored. Brad Correll belted his first of two home runs in the 6th, a three run shot off Elliott, which would make the score six to one. Thon would contribute their offensive success to “coming in off a long road trip, no batting practice, and just swinging the bats.”

Flyers fans were getting restless and not even the dollar hot dogs could make them happy. Bay continued to cruise, going the distance striking out six and giving up just five hits, the lone big blow being a solo home run by Burrus in the second. “I worked in my bullpen between starts and stayed straighter to the plate. Being able to work on your stuff between starts is a huge thing,” Bay said. The series resumes Tuesday with righty Brett Harker ( 3-7, 5.54 ERA) taking on Joliet’s Ross Stout (5-6, 5.09 ERA).