SCHAUMBURG, IL —The Schaumburg Boomers, presented by Wintrust Community Banks, put the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth inning but could not dig out of a 5-1 hole in dropping a 5-4 decision to the Joliet Slammers.

Joliet used three two-out runs, two in the second and one in the third, to build a 3-0 edge. Kyle Ruchim tripled and scored on a single from John Holland in the bottom of the third before the Slammers added a pair in the fourth. Schaumburg chased the Joliet starter in the fifth, amassing five hits to score twice and pull within 5-3. David Harris and Sean Godfrey posted two-out run scoring singles. Rock Shoulders hit his first homer with the Boomers in the eighth to pull within a run, but the Boomers left the tying run on base in the ninth.

Joe Hauser suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs in four innings. The bullpen did not allow a run the rest of the way as Derek DeYoung and Garrett Kelly spun two scoreless innings. Evan Boyd finished out with a blank ninth. The offense slugged 13 hits but stranded 10 on base. Ruchim tallied three hits and scored twice.

The Boomers (56-27) continue to own the best record in the league and hold a commanding lead in the East Division while closing in on a playoff berth with a magic number of four for the division and three for a playoff berth pending results elsewhere. The homestand comes to a close on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. with the finale against Joliet as LHP Lars Liguori (6-4, 3.98) takes the ball on the hill. Make the Boomers part of your plans this season by calling (847) 461-FOWL (3695). Hear all of the game action this season on AM 1410 WRMN with the voice of the Boomers, Tim Calderwood.