06/19/2016 10:01 AM -
SUNDAY’S GAME:
Joliet Admirals (9-8)
at Northwest Indiana Oilmen (9-9)
June 19, 2016 • 4 p.m. • Whiting, Ind.
Radio: AM 1230 & 104.7 FM WJOB, NWIOilmen.com
Pitching Matchup
NWI’s Reggie Johnson (Alcorn State / South Holland, Ill.) vs. Joliet’s Robert Talarico (Lewis / Joliet, Ill.)
For Starters
The Oilmen have scored in the first inning in 12 straight games. In the last five games, Oilmen starting pitchers have an 0.60 ERA. Oilmen starters have worked 21 straight scoreless innings dating back to the first inning on Wednesday against the Lakers. The Oilmen had a four-game winning streak snapped on Saturday with a 9-5 loss to the Vikings. Southland is already four wins away from matching its season total from a year ago.
Inside the Oilmen
Tyler Sroczysnki went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three stolen bases to lead the Oilmen offense on Saturday. Sroczysnki has been successful on 16 straight stolen base attempts dating back to last season and is a perfect 11-for-11 this year. He moved atop the Oilmen career leaderboard in two different categories on Saturday, passing Craig Austgen’s career hit record of 60 and Jack Czeszewski’s career stolen base record of 26. Sroczysnki also extended his hitting streak to nine. Chase Dawson doubled in the eighth to keep his on-base streak going. He’s reached in all 10 games with the Oilmen. Stefano Belmonte had two hits and moved into the team lead with 12 RBIs. Belmonte is the only player on the team who has not struck out this season. He’s had 46 plate appearances. Chase Fieldhouse has been on base in 11 straight games. Sunday’s starter Reggie Johnson is 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts. He has issued nine walks and struck out 15 in 14 innings. Johnson leads the team in strikeouts despite pitching fewer innings than three other Oilmen starters.
Inside the Admirals
Brendan Brundage and Cody Grosse have been the two standout offensive players for Joliet this season. They rank first and second on the team in most offensive categories. Brundage leads the team in batting average (.400), RBIs (16), hits (26) and stolen bases (11), while ranking second in OBP (.487) and runs (20). Grosse leads the team in OBP (.493), walks (12) and runs (20) while ranking second in average (.375), hits (21) and stolen bases (10). Sunday’s starter Robert Talarico is 3-0 with a 3.94 ERA. He’s issued 10 walks and struck out 18 in 16 innings over four games, three starts. Talarico’s most recent outing came against the Hounds on June 11, when he allowed four runs on nine hits in six innings. He beat the Oilmen on May 29 with four innings of one-run, five-hit ball. The Admirals enter the game as the league’s hottest team, having won three straight since last week’s loss to the Oilmen. The Admirals have already knocked off the top two teams in the league this weekend, beating Bloomington 16-3 on Friday and DuPage County 6-5 on Saturday.
About the Matchup
The Oilmen are 24-6 all-time against the Joliet franchise. The Oilmen have scored at least six runs in all four meetings between the two teams this season, most recently a 6-2 win a week ago. Northwest Indiana is 3-1 against Joliet this year.
Click "download attachment" to view full Oilmen game notes.
