Big 6th Inning Pushes Miners Past Ottawa

June 16, 2018 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Sussex County Miners News Release

Sussex County Miners on the mound
(Sussex County Miners, Credit: Sara Schaarschmidt/Sussex County Miners)

Going into the game with the Can-Am League's best offense and their ace on the mound, and a team that they have had success against this season, the Sussex County Miners had all of the ingredients needed to get a win at home. They just did that, as they used another dominant outing by David Rollins (3-1) to remain a half-game ahead of Quebec for first place.

After the Champions opened the scoring in the top of the second, the Miners answered immediately in their half of the frame. A wild throw by Ottawa starter Jake Hale (3-3) allowed a Luis Alen groundball to score Martin Figueroa to tie the game at one. Jayce Ray walked with the bases loaded to give the Miners a 2-1 lead at the end of two.

In the top of the fourth, Ottawa pieced together three singles by Jordan Caillouet, Tillman Pugh, and a run scoring hit by Chase Harris to even the score at two apiece.

Sussex County's bats really came alive in the sixth inning as they busted the game wide open and chased Hale rom the contest. Rubi Silva got the scoring started with an RBI double, scoring Mikey Reynolds. Since returning to the Miners after spending some time with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League, Silva has twelve hits and ten RBIs in six games. Alen and Ray drove in three runs combined in the inning to extend their team's lead to 6-2.

The Miners pushed another run across in the seventh inning, before Ottawa began a small comeback bid in the top of the eighth inning. Caillouet scored his third run of the game off a ball in play by Daniel Bick to cut the Miners advantage to 7-3. But Kevin Grendell would come on and get the home side out of further trouble.

Alex Demchak came on in the ninth inning to close out the victory for Sussex County as he gave up just one hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning of work. He has yet to allow an earned run in eleven innings of work this season out of the bullpen.

Rollins picked up his third win of the season, going seven and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on nine hits while striking out eight and walking one. Hale took the loss, striking out none in five and two-thirds innings of work. He gave up six runs (four earned) on ten hits and three walks.

The Miners will look for the sweep when these two teams meet tomorrow for a Father's Day matinée at 2:05pm at Skylands Stadium.

Sussex County Miners pitcher David Rollins (Sara Schaarschmidt/Sussex County Miners)	Martin Figueroa of the Sussex County Miners safe at first vs. the Ottawa Champions (Sara Schaarschmidt/Sussex County Miners)	Sussex County Miners catcher Luis Alen with a big swing (Sara Schaarschmidt/Sussex County Miners)
Sussex County Miners infielder Audy Ciriaco takes a swing (Sara Schaarschmidt/Sussex County Miners)	Sussex County Miners warm up (Sara Schaarschmidt/Sussex County Miners)	Sussex County Miners pitcher warming up (Sara Schaarschmidt/Sussex County Miners)
Sussex County Miners on the mound (Sara Schaarschmidt/Sussex County Miners)

Canadian American League Stories from June 16, 2018

• Can-Am League Game Recaps - Can-Am
• Big 6th Inning Pushes Miners Past Ottawa - Sussex County Miners
• Boulders Prevail Over Dominican Republic, Lose McDonald to Injury - New York Boulders
• Sussex County's Big Sixth Inning Hands Champions Fourth Straight Loss - Ottawa Champions

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