Ferrante double lifts Flyers to a 3-2 win over Joliet

A two-run double by Victor Ferrante with two outs in the eighth put the Flyers ahead as Craig James wiggled his way out of the ninth to give the Flyers a 3-2 win over the Joliet JackHammers on a scorching Wednesday afternoon at Alexian Field in Schaumburg.

Joliet got on the board in the first inning when Kevin Rios scored on a Freddie Thon groundout after tripling. But Flyers starter Alain Quijano was excellent again, not allowing another hit until the seventh inning, when he was pulled in favor of Jim Popp.

The Flyers did nothing against Joliet starter Rory Shortell until the fifth, when T.J. Wilson reached on one of his two bunt singles on the day. Wilson then stole second and scored on Richard Mercado's single to right. The RBI single tied the game at 1-1 and ended a 0-27 streak with runners-in-scoring position to start the season for Mercado.

Travis Ezi led off the decisive eighth inning with a walk. JackHammers reliever Ryan Paul retired the next two Flyers before manager Wally Backman decided to intentionally walk Felix Jose. That brought up Ferrante, who crushed a double to right center field, scoring Ezi and Stephen Yoo, who pinch-ran for Jose.

Yoo's run turned out to be a big one. Leading 3-1 in the ninth, Flyers closer Craig James walked Freddie Thon and Isaac Omura, then Wally Backman Jr. knocked a pinch-hit single to load the bases with one out.

Andrew Pinckney grounded out to first to score Thon from third, bringing up another pinch-hitter in Phil Avlas with two outs. Avlas drilled a fly ball to the track in left-center, but Ezi ran it down and made the grab to end the game.

Both starting pitchers recorded quality starts, a feat made even more impressive by the above-100 degree heat index. Quijano allowed 3 hits in 6 innings of work, but took a no-decision. Shortell pitched 7 innings, giving up 1 run for Joliet. Popp (1-1) got the win allowing 1 hit over 2 innings, while Paul (1-3) took the loss.

Schaumburg and Joliet will meet again Thursday night at 7:05 with Flyers right-hander Ed Almonte (3-2, 3.20) opposing JackHammers lefty Ryan Gehring (1-2, 3.93).