Losing streak hits 11 games for Slammers
By Tim Tierney For Sun-Times Media August 25, 2012 10:36PM
Joliet starter Jim Schult works Saturday against the River City Rascals at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. | Tim Tierney~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: September 27, 2012 11:48AM
The sun was shining Saturday on Silver Cross Field, fans of all ages were coming into the ballpark and the Joliet Slammers were warming up along the right-field line getting ready to play baseball.
Losing streak or not, that scene never gets old in any league.
“I kind of always have that glass half full attitude,’’ manager Bart Zeller said. “I always feel that today we’re going to turn it around. I know from the players’ standpoint it’s very frustrating, it’s very disappointing.’’
The Slammers’ skid grew to 11 games with a 6-1 defeat to the River City Rascals. Jim Schult (5-8) took the loss, giving up four runs on seven hits over 52/3 innings.
Erik Lis’ eighth home run and team-leading 45th RBI gave the Slammers (35-54) a short-lived 1-0 lead in the second inning. Joliet was hitting just .190 as a team in the previous 10 games.
River City (43-46) scored a run in the third, three more in the fifth and single runs in the seventh and ninth.
The losing streak reached 10 games Friday with an 11-0 loss to the Rascals in the series opener. Zeller witnessed an exchange in the dugout during the game that prompted him to later have a “little meeting with the team.’’
“A couple guys were joking in the dugout last night,’’ Zeller said. “I didn’t like it because we’re getting beat 10-0. I saw nothing funny, no matter what they could have been talking about.’’
Zeller did have good things to say about former Lewis University outfielder Andrew Brauer, a Mokena native who was signed Aug. 18 after a tryout camp in Rockford.
“I’m really excited about this young man — good arm, ran hard, hustled all the time,’’ Zeller said. “I see a lot of good things in Andrew Brauer.’’
Rookie Jacob Sanchez (4-1, 2.53 ERA) will start the season’s home finale at 6:05 p.m. Sunday. There will be fireworks after the game. The Slammers’ Abel Nieves will play every position. He’s played everywhere this season except pitcher, catcher and center field.
The Slammers finish their season with road series against the Washington (Pa.) Wild Things and the Normal CornBelters.
“It’s not like we’re fighting to move up in the standings,’’ Zeller said. “I’d like to end it on a good note.’’
