Tully Monsters Defeat Deep Dish 8-4

The Joliet Tully Monsters outclassed the Chicago Deep Dish 8-4 in Sunday afternoon’s 2020 City of Champions Cup matchup. The game was more of a batters game as both teams combined for 17 hits, including three home runs. Caleb Ricca was the main man for the Monsters as half of the team’s eight runs came courtesy of his one swing.

In the sixth inning, the Monsters worked three consecutive walks. Ricca blasted a towering grand slam for his first homer of the summer. Ricca was 2-for-3 with a walk in the game, boosting his team-leading batting average to .436. Catcher Nick Meyer, shortstop Tyler Depreta-Johnson and center fielder Alex McKenna were also instrumental for the Monsters’ win.

Meyer was 2-for-4 with an RBI double and two runs scored, and Depreta-Johnson was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Two RBIs with a third-inning double was recorded by McKenna. Despite the loss, Deep Dish catcher Erik Ostberg had a tremendous day. He hit two solo homers—one in the fourth inning and one in the eighth.

Third baseman David Kyriacou went for 3-3 with a walk, RBI, and run scored. He raised his team-leading batting average to .476. Righthander Tyler Jones posted a quality start for the Tully Monsters. He pitched six innings and allowed three runs. He earned his first win for the City of Champions Cup. Relievers Robert Milacki, Kyle Johnson, and Tom Caulfield combined for three innings of one-run ball to close out the Tully Monsters victory.

Deep Dish starter Austin Shea pitched five innings, allowing five hits and one walk. He struck out three and gave up four runs, however, only three were earned. The Tully Monsters went to 10-4 for the season with this win while Deep Dish dropped to 7-11. They will face NERDS Herd next on Thursday night, while the Monsters will face Slammers on Tuesday night.