Joliet Swings to Middle Game Win

Saturday, September 3, 2022
By Tim Calderwood
Joliet Swings to Middle Game Win

JOLIET, Ill. — Cole Cook carried a perfect game into the seventh inning for the Joliet Slammers, who recorded a 9-1 won over the 2021 Frontier League Champion Schaumburg Boomers in the middle game of the regular season ending series on Saturday night.

Cook sat the Boomers down in order in the top of the first and then Joliet immediately scored five runs in the bottom of the frame. Carson Maxwell connected on a grand slam to break the game open early. Alec Craig ended Cole’s perfect game with a double over the third base bag leading off the seventh and eventually scored the lone run in the contest. Cole retired the first 18 batters of the game.

Jumpei Akanuma suffered the loss, working 4.1 innings. Tyler Tomaka, Miguel Reyes and Juan Pichardo all appeared before Braxton Davidson came on for his second relief outing of the year, tossing a scoreless eighth. The Boomers struck out eight in the game.

Evansville was rained out on Saturday and will play a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Florence. The Boomers (53-42) hold a one-game lead in the race for home field in the wild card game and need a win or one Evansville loss to host the contest on Tuesday night. Luis Perez (1-0, 6.48) will take the ball in the regular season finale. Visit boomersbaseball.com for all the details.