A couple of hours after the Slammers extended their winning streak to seven games Wednesday morning, they piled into a bus for a little trip.
It wasn’t for a team meal to celebrate the longest winning streak in the Frontier League. The Slammers left Joliet to play another game against Windy City, this time at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood.
The day-night doubleheader at two different ballparks on a hot day can produce different viewpoints.
“When you’ve got a team that’s winning, they’re ready to go play again,’’ Joliet manager Jeff Isom said. “If you’re a team that’s on the other side of things — and we’ve been on that side of it — it’s tough. It’s like, ‘Oh man, we’ve got another game.’ We’re going to ride this wave.’’
For ThunderBolts manager Ron Biga, whose team is last in the East Division, the split location day-night doubleheader was something to deal with.
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“That’s exactly it, we have to deal with it,’’ Biga said after the T-Bolts lost the first game 6-5. “Theoretically, you really don’t want to do something like this from the baseball end, but they’re businesses. You just have to deal with it and play the games.’’
Slammers season ticket holder John Rohde and his wife Mari planned to attend both games.
“I think it’s a great concept,’’ John Rohde said from his front-row seat at Joliet Route 66 Stadium. “We’ve been to a few of the stadiums. I’d like to do the Lake Erie (Ohio) team and catch the White Sox when they’re playing Cleveland.’’
Before the Slammers departed for Crestwood, third baseman Danny Zardon knew where he was headed.
“Take an ice bath, try to cool down,’’ Zardon said. “Get my legs back under me and just relax the rest of the day.’’
Zardon had an RBI infield hit to tie the first game 2-2 in the sixth inning and a sacrifice fly to give the Slammers a 6-2 lead in the seventh.
“A day like today, it’s more about being smarter toward your approach and how you need to get ready rather than doing more,’’ Zardon said. “You don’t want to tire yourself out. Get in the fifth inning of the night game and you’re gassed. It’s more or less just pacing yourself.’’
The Slammers’ Ridge Hoopii-Haslam, who delivered an RBI triple and a run-scoring single in the first game, didn’t have a problem with Wednesday’s unusual schedule.
“It’s just baseball,’’ he said. “You can’t control the weather or whatever they do in the front office. We’ve just got to keep playing.’’
The day-night doubleheader was a first for T-Bolts second baseman Tim Zier, who had an RBI single in the first game.
“Rolling with the punches right now,’’ Zier said. “Bus back home. Hour or so to recoup after this nail biter. Pretend that this morning didn’t happen. Pretend that a nine-inning game at 10 a.m. didn’t happen and just go about your business.
“I’ve played in many doubleheaders, and this is the first one with so much time and space in between. There’s a lot of positives in this morning game. But now that we were on the losing side of it, we’ve just got to flush it and try to get our minds right.’’
Zier, first baseman Tyler Straub and catcher Larry Balkwill have been in the lineup every game this season for the T-Bolts.
“I definitely pride myself on being durable and being able to play every game,’’ Zier said.
That durability will be tested again because the rainout of Tuesday’s game means the Slammers and T-Bolts play two, seven-inning games Thursday in Joliet.
The busy schedule now could help the Slammers later. With an extra game against Windy City being played this week instead of Aug. 26, Joliet will have three days off before their final two series of the season.
“If we can be in the playoff hunt, that’s perfect,’’ Isom said. “We’ll be able to get our starters in order with those extra built-in days. It’s tough on guys right now, but later on it could pay dividends, we’re hoping.’’
Tim Tierney is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.