Game Recap • September 2, 2026

Skinner, Paz Each Deliver Two Hit Days in 7-2 Loss to Slammers

Two sacrifice flies brought home Mississippi's only runs as the Mud Monsters were held to four hits Wednesday night in Joliet.

Colton Martinez

Director of Broadcasting & Storytelling
Mississippi Mud Monsters

Final: Joliet 7, Mississippi 2 Records: MIS 38-59 • JOL 41-57 Skinner: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R Paz: 2-for-4, SB Series: Tied 1-1

JOLIET, Ill. (Sep. 2, 2026) — Two sacrifice flies brought home the only runs for the Mississippi Mud Monsters (38-59) as the offense was held to four hits in a 7-2 loss to the Joliet Slammers (41-57) Wednesday night at Slammers Stadium.

After taking the opening game of the three-game set, the Mud Monsters sent right-hander Julian Minaya to the mound looking to carry the winning momentum into game two.

Mississippi’s offense was retired in order in its first opportunity before Minaya took the hill and struck out leadoff man Ian Battipaglia for the first out.

The next batter, Tyler Cerny, doubled before Patrick Ward singled him home to give Joliet a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first for the second consecutive game.

A walk to Jackson Valera followed before Minaya responded by recording the final two outs, including his second strikeout of the inning against Olivier Basabe to close out the frame.

Karell Paz collected the first Mud Monsters hit with one out in the top of the second and attempted to steal second with two outs but was thrown out by Joliet catcher Colton Vincent to end the inning.

Cam Suto led off the bottom of the second with a single and later stole second to move into scoring position.

Minaya induced a popout to first baseman AJ Fritz for the first out before striking out Kadon Morton for the second.

Battipaglia then singled home Suto to extend Joliet’s advantage to 2-0 before back-to-back walks loaded the bases.

Minaya induced an inning-ending groundout to limit the damage.

After the Mississippi bats were retired in order in the top of the third, Minaya issued back-to-back hit-by-pitches to Basabe and Suto to put two Slammers aboard.

A balk was then called on Minaya, advancing both runners into scoring position.

The right-hander responded by striking out Vincent for the second out before inducing a flyout to right field to post his first scoreless inning of the evening.

Brayland Skinner led off the top of the fourth with a double to immediately give Mississippi a runner in scoring position.

Joliet starter Gunnar Kines then hit Amani Larry with a pitch to put two Mud Monsters aboard.

Kyle Booker grounded out to first, advancing both runners into scoring position, before Fritz drove home Mississippi’s first run with a sacrifice fly to center field to trim the deficit to 2-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, Minaya opened the frame with his fifth strikeout, tying his high as a Mud Monster, before Cerny reached on a throwing error.

Ward joined him on the basepaths with a single before a wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position.

Valera followed with a ground ball to third, where Joshua Shelly threw home to catcher Tevis Payne II in an attempt to nab Cerny breaking for the plate.

Cerny crossed to push Joliet’s advantage back to two runs at 3-1.

Jackson Beaman followed with a two-run double to extend the Slammers’ lead to 5-1.

On the play, Beaman attempted to advance to third but was thrown out for the second out before Minaya induced a groundout to first to end the inning.

After Kines retired the Mud Monsters in order for the third time, Minaya allowed the first two Slammers to reach in the bottom of the fifth after Suto singled and a pitch-clock violation resulted in a walk.

A sacrifice bunt by Morton advanced both runners into scoring position before Minaya struck out Battipaglia.

Minaya then delivered a wild pitch that allowed Suto to score and extend Joliet’s advantage to 6-1.

With one out in the top of the sixth, Skinner singled for his second hit of the evening before Larry reached for the second time with a walk.

A wild pitch by Kines advanced both Mississippi baserunners into scoring position before Booker lifted a fly ball the opposite way into left field, allowing Skinner to score on Mississippi’s second sacrifice fly and trim the deficit to 6-2.

Hunter Belton took over out of the bullpen in the bottom of the sixth, closing the book on Minaya.

The right-hander finished his outing after 5.0 innings, allowing six runs, three earned, on seven hits while walking four and striking out six.

Belton retired the first two Joliet batters before Beaman connected on a solo home run to center field to get a run back for the Slammers and make it 7-2.

The right-hander regrouped and recorded his first strikeout of the evening to close out the inning.

Paz collected his second hit of the game to begin the top of the seventh against Kines and later stole second, but Mississippi could not bring him home.

Belton’s outing continued into the bottom of the seventh. The Cabot, Arkansas native allowed a one-out single before another two-out single put two Slammers aboard.

Belton responded with his second strikeout of the outing to escape the frame without allowing a run.

Chas Cywin took the hill for Joliet in the top of the eighth as the Slammers turned to their bullpen for the first time and retired Mississippi in order for the fourth time on the evening.

Belton returned for the bottom of the eighth and issued a one-out walk before inducing a ground-ball double play to end the inning unscathed.

With Mississippi down to its final offensive opportunity, Cywin remained on the mound for Joliet.

Booker sent a ball into center field that Morton misplayed, allowing the leadoff man to reach for Mississippi.

A wild pitch from Cywin followed, allowing Booker to advance to second.

Cywin responded by recording the next three outs to close the book on a 7-2 game-two loss for Mississippi.