FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
June 26, 2007 815-774-2881

HARRIS RBI DOUBLE IN SEVENTH INNING GIVES JACKHAMMERS 5-4 WIN

JOLIET, IL-Joliet JackHammers right fielder Cory Harris went 2-4 with a solo home run and three RBI as well as the game-winning RBI double to beat the Gary SouthShore RailCats 5-4 at Silver Cross Field on Wednesday night. The JackHammers improve to 17-20 with the win.

The JackHammers took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run by Anthony Monegan in the first inning against RailCats starting pitcher Willie. Monegan hit his only other home run on June 8 against Glen at U.S. Steel Yard.

The RailCats scored four runs against JackHammers right-handed starting pitcher Raymond Jenkins in the third inning. Jay Pecci hit a one-out single and stole second base before advancing to third base on a single by Steve Haake. Jose Yepez hit an RBI single to score Pecci and tie the game at 1-1.

After Tanner Townsend worked a walk to load the bases, David Detienne hit an RBI single to score Haake and Yepez and give the RailCats a 3-1 lead. Nate Price followed with an RBI single to score Townsend and give the RailCats a 4-1 lead.

The JackHammers started their comeback in the bottom of the third inning. Harris hit a solo home run over the right field wall. It was Harris’s second home run in as many games and it cut the JackHammers deficit down to two runs at 4-2.

Joliet scored a run in the fifth inning when Harris hit a groundout to second base. Eric Scriven, who started the inning reaching base after being hit by a pitch and went to second base on a single by Anthony Monegan before advancing to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Brown, scored on the play. The JackHammers trailed by just one run at 4-3.

The ‘Hammers took the lead for good in a pivotal two-run seventh inning. Dennis Blackmon led off the inning with a single. He moved to second base when Scriven laid down a sacrifice bunt. Monegan grounded out to move Blackmon to third base before Brad Mumma unleashed a wild pitch that allowed Blackmon to score to tie the game at 1-1.

Chris Brown followed with a walk and scored on a double by Harris that won the game for the JackHammers.

Loose Gravel: Joliet beat the Gary for the first time in 2007. The JackHammers were previously 0-4 against the RailCats.

The JackHammers and RailCats wrap up their three-game series on Wednesday night. Josh Habel (5-3, 4.42) gets the ball for the RailCats against Nick Renault (5-1, 3.31) for the JackHammers. The first pitch is at 6:50 p.m. and pre-game coverage begins at 7:05 p.m. on 1340 WJOL and online at www.jackhammerbaseball.com.

Make your plans to come out to Silver Cross Field for 80’s Night and Baseball Bingo sponsored by UMARA. For tickets or for more information, please give the JackHammers a call at (815) 726-BALL (2255), go online to www.jackhammerbaseball.com, or stop by the Silver Cross Field Box Office during normal business hours.

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