The Schaumburg Boomers woke up in the bottom of the eighth inning but could not dig out of a 5-0 hole, dropping the finale with Equipe Quebec 5-4 at Wintrust Field on Thursday night.
Equipe Quebec built a 5-0 lead by scoring three runs in the fourth and adding two in the fifth. Starter Codie Paiva baffled the Boomers through the first seven innings, allowing just two hits while retiring 12 straight and 19-of-20. That all changed in the eighth when Luke Becker notched an infield single to start the frame. Nick Oddo and Brett Milazzo followed with singles to load the bases. With one out, Matt McGarry drilled his sixth homer of the year over the wall in left to draw the Boomers within 5-4. The grand slam was the second of the season by the Boomers. Following a pitching change the bullpen for Equipe Quebec was able to hold on and snag the one-run victory.
Andrew Dean suffered the loss, allowing five runs in six innings of work. Andrew Cartier tossed a scoreless seventh while Kristian Scott worked the final two innings without allowing a run. McGarry finished with two hits, adding a double in addition to the homer. Schaumburg finished with six in the contest.
The Boomers (36-32), who won two-of-three and remain four games up in the Central, hit the road for three games in St. Louis this weekend against the Gateway Grizzlies. RHP Isaiah Rivera (1-2, 3.82) takes the ball in the opening game at 6:45 p.m. on Friday night. The team is back home at Wintrust Field on Tuesday for three contests. Visit www.boomersbaseball.com for tickets and information or call 847-461-3695.