When rookie pitcher Daren Osby signed with the Slammers a little more than a month ago, they were starting to move up in the Frontier League East Division standings.
The 22-year-old Georgia native has helped the Slammers climb to the top of the division and the league.
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Osby has won his last three starts, including a 5-3 series-clinching victory Sunday over division rival Schaumburg at Joliet Route 66 Stadium.
“When I got the call to come up here, I knew it was a good team coming in,’’ Osby said. “I just want to play my role, go out there and give the team a chance to win every time.’’
Osby (4-1, 4.17 ERA) allowed seven hits and three runs over five innings and left Sunday’s game with a 4-3 lead.
“I always give my all and compete as hard as I can,’’ he said. “I can go out and give up 10 runs, but as long as I know I gave my all, they just got me that day. I don’t think I had my best stuff today, but I competed.’’
Osby starred at Troy University in Alabama. The Slammers signed the 6-foot-4, 245-pound right-hander after they lost Duke Von Schamann for the season because of an injury.
Osby throws a fastball that can hit the low 90s, a curveball, slider and change-up.
“He had a very good career at Troy, played in some big games when they went to the NCAA tournament,’’ Joliet manager Jeff Isom said. “We had a spot, bring him in. One time he got hit around, but the other starts have been solid.’’
While Osby has helped solidify the rotation, designated hitter Justin Garcia has been the offensive catalyst.
Garcia has hit seven home runs since the All-Star break and leads the league in homers (19) and RBIs (57).
“That looks pretty cool,’’ Garcia said of the league web site. “I try not to focus on it.’’
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound slugger homered twice Sunday, including a two-run shot for a 3-0 lead in the first inning. His opposite-field, solo shot to left gave Joliet a 4-1 lead in the fourth.
“As the at-bats pile up, you definitely get a lot more comfortable,’’ Garcia said. “I’ve been working hard. Swinging at strikes, taking something off my swing, focusing on putting it in play. It’s just going.’’
Isom knows what Garcia has meant to the Slammers since the break.
“Up to this point, one guy hasn’t carried our team offensively, but we’re kind of jumping on his back on the offensive side,’’ Isom said. “He’s come up with some big hits.’’
The Slammers (38-28) are 10 games above .500 for the first time since 2011 when they won the league title in their first season.
“We’ll take it, we’ll take it,’’ Isom said. “At this point, it’s a daily grind. We’re just trying to win as many games as we can right now, try to get a little bit of a lead so that way you’re not pressing in the last week of the season.’’
The Slammers are 11-4 since the All-Star break with nine of those games having been at home. They play 21 of their final 30 on the road, but it may not matter when it comes to making the playoffs.
The Slammers go to Evansville and Gateway this week before a home series starts Aug. 7 against Washington.
“Historically, 54 wins gets you in the playoffs,’’ Isom said. “If we play .500 ball, we should have a pretty good chance. Play the game the right way and hustle, we should be OK.’’
Tim Tierney is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.