SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — After allowing just one run in three games to the Joliet Slammers last weekend, the first-place Schaumburg Boomers dropped a 2-0 decision to the defending Frontier League Champions Friday.

The Boomers (41-29) wasted a solid outing by rookie Matt Kuna, who gave up a seventh inning home run off the bat of Joliet’s David Fox that just barely cleared the wall in left field for the night’s only runs. The Griffith, Ind. native suffered his first loss at home as a member of the Boomers and has now thrown into the sixth inning in every start. Kuna struck out five and surrendered eight hits through 6.1 solid innings of work Friday in front of 4,313 at Boomers Stadium.

The Schaumburg bullpen also kept the Boomers in the game as Jason Braun and Joe Parsons combined for 2.2 perfect innings. Parsons dropped his ERA to a team best 1.24 with five strikeouts in two very strong innings for Schaumburg. The Boomers mustered just three hits off the Slammers staff, with Steven Maxwell throwing eight shutout frames for Joliet to earn his sixth victory of the season. Amalio Diaz also picked up a pair of strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning to record his 17th save for the Slammers.

The Boomers look to rally with ace Cameron Roth (8-4, 2.99) on the mound for Manager Jamie Bennett and Joliet counters with RHP Jacob Sanchez (3-1, 2.27) for the scheduled 6 p.m. first pitch and drawstring backpack giveaway! Gates open at 5 p.m. so be sure you are one of the first 1,500 fans in the park to snag a super cool Boomers backpack as part of Back-to-School Night!

PECKS

• Fox’s homer was the first home run allowed by a Boomers pitcher at home since July 18
• Tonight’s game marked the third time Joe Parsons has struck out the side this year and his five strikeouts over his two innings Friday were the most by a Boomers reliever in a single appearance

Tickets for the Inaugural Season of Boomers Baseball are going fast so act now: online at www.boomersbaseball.com, over the phone at 847.461.3695 or in person at the Boomers Box Office located at Boomers Stadium, 1999 Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg IL, 60193. Don’t miss the newly added weekend series on August 17-19 with special ticket discounts available, so give us a call today!