Boomers rally, then fall

SAUGET, Ill. — A wild battle that saw the Schaumburg Boomers rally from a 7-2 deficit ended in a 10-8 loss to the Gateway Grizzlies on Saturday night in suburban St. Louis.

Frank Pfister’s first-inning homer put the Boomers ahead 1-0, but Gateway scored four times in the bottom half and built a 7-2 lead after five. Down 7-3, the Boomers sent 12 men to the plate in a 5-run seventh to take an 8-7 lead. Brian McConkey, Sean Mahley, Alexi Colon and Michael Valadez strung together consecutive RBI hits and Craig Hertler had a bases-loaded walk to put the Boomers ahead.

Gateway’s Landon Hernandez tied the game with a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the inning and Antone DeJesus provided the difference with a 2-run shot in the eighth against Dan Petitti, who suffered the loss.

The Boomers had the tying runs on base in the ninth but could not score, losing despite a season high in runs scored and a franchise record of 12 walks. The Boomers’ Chad Mozingo and Colon each had 2 hits.

The teams meet in the series finale today at 6:05 p.m. Boomers right-hander Mike GIovenco (0-1, 3.60) will make his third start of the season, opposing righty Tucker Jensen (1-0).