Schaumburg Boomers strike late to win series

The Schaumburg Boomers scored a pair of runs in the eighth inning to notch a 3-1 win over the Traverse City Beach Bums and win the series.

Traverse City struck first, tallying a single run in the top of the fourth. The leadoff batter in the bottom of the frame, John Menken, homered over the wall in center to tie the game. The homer marked the first in the professional career of Menken, signed on Friday. Brett Mabry twirled seven innings for the Boomers, allowing just 5 hits while striking out seven in a no-decision.

Clark Labitan came away with the win after Alexi Colon singled home Kyle Ruchim in the eighth with the winning run. Colon scored on a sacrifice fly from Willi Martin. Dexter Price struck out the side in the ninth for his sixth save. Ruchim and Colon each notched a pair of hits as the Boomers won a home series for the first time since taking two-of-three from Evansville July 3-5. Schaumburg did not walk in the game, snapping a string of 34 consecutive contests with a walk for the league leaders in that category.