Evansville holds off Schaumburg Boomers
SCHAUMBURG - The Schaumburg Boomers brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but could not complete a comeback in an 8-5 loss to the Evansville Otters before a season-high crowd.
Evansville opened a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Boomers rallied to within 3-2 in the bottom of the second when 2 runs scored on an error. The visitors tacked on 2 more runs in the fifth to chase starter Edwin Carl from the contest. Kyle Ruchim's sacrifice fly pulled the Boomers within 5-3 before Evansville netted 3 more to move ahead 8-3. Willi Martin, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the third, singled home 2 in the ninth. With the bases loaded, Evansville closer Edgar Lopez preserved the win by recording back-to-back outs.
Carl worked five innings, suffering the loss. Brett Maus allowed just 1 earned run in three innings of relief. Martin tallied 2 hits and drove home a pair, his first professional multi-hit game. Cam Sherrer also collected a pair of hits. Sherrer tripled, becoming the 10th player to triple this year.
Schaumburg (19-25) concludes the Independence Day weekend at 1 p.m. Sunday with the rubber game against the Otters.