Joliet’s grand slam beats Wild Things
JOLIET, Ill. – Patrick Ward hit a grand slam with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, sending the Joliet Slammers to an 8-5 come-from-behind win over Wild Things on Saturday night.
Ward’s seventh home run of the season came off Washington reliever Eldridge Armstrong III and erased a 5-4 Wild Things lead.
The Wild Things took the 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh on a home run by Caleb Ketchup.
Washington reliever Michael Foltz Jr. (2-1) retired the first Joliet hitter in the bottom of the seventh, but a single, double and intentional walk loaded the bases. Armstrong was then brought in to pitch to Ward.
Joliet outhit Washington 12-6. The Slammers’ Ian Battapaglia went 3-for-3 and scored four runs. Battapaglia hit a solo homer off Washington starter Ben Kowalski.
Cole Fowler hit a two-run homer and Kyle Edwards added a solo shot for the Wild Things. Fowler drove in three runs.
Though they lost the game, the Wild Things had their magic number for clinching a playoff spot drop to three because of Gateway’s 6-4 win at Windy City. Evansville’s come-form-behind win over Florence cut Washington’s lead in the Central Division to three games with 13 remaining.