Big Inning Leads Miners to Win in River City Finale
July 21, 2019 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
O'Fallon, MO - The Southern Illinois Miners broke a scoreless tie in a big way in the finale of a four-game series against the River City Rascals, scoring seven runs in the top of the fourth inning, including a grand slam by Cletis Avery, and beating their rivals from O'Fallon 8-4 to win their 30th game of the season and get back to within two games of a playoff spot at CarShield Field.
In the last game between the two teams in the regular season, it was rookie left-hander Cole Cook who set the tone, as he held the River City offense to just one run in five innings in his professional debut. Cook (1-0) walked only one while striking out four and got the win when the Miners' offense exploded in the fourth inning against Rascals starter Tanner Cable (1-4).
Jamey Smart led off with a double and advanced safely to third base on a fielder's choice by Andy Cosgrove. Southern Illinois then took the lead when Jarrod Watkins singled in Smart to make it 1-0. After a popout for the first out of the inning, Jhombeyker Morales then reached on an error by Braxton Martinez to load the bases, bringing up Avery, who took a full-count pitch from Cable deep over the high, right field wall for his second grand slam of the season, vaulting the Miners ahead to a 5-0 lead.
They would not stop there, however, as with two outs in the inning, Kyle Davis, Smart and Cosgrove all hit singles to keep the inning going, with the latter two picking up RBIs to expand the lead to 7-0. In the bottom of the fifth, Zach Lavy led off with a double for River City and eventually scored on a double by L.J. Kalawaia to make it a 7-1 game, but Smart came up with two outs in the next inning, and got the run back with a solo home run to right field for an 8-1 advantage.
River City would grab three more runs in the sixth inning, but would get no closer as Jake Godfrey combined with Will Headean and Jordan Brink for three scoreless innings to finish the game off, with Brink striking out the last two Rascals looking as Southern Illinois salvaged the series finale. Smart led the way by going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs, finishing a triple away from the cycle and tying his career high for hits in a game, while Avery's four RBIs also tied a career best. Eight of the nine Miners had at least one hit in the contest, as Southern Illinois out-hit the Rascals 14 to nine to finish the 2019 regular season an even 6-6 against River City.
The Miners will continue their road swing in Schaumburg against the Boomers on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series. Marty Anderson will toe the slab on Tuesday against former Miner Payton Lobdell, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the Frontier League's most-successful franchise since debuting in 2007, winning the 2012 Frontier League Championship as well as division titles in 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the box office at (618) 998-8499. For additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.
Frontier League Stories from July 21, 2019
- Rascals Can't Finish Sweep - River City Rascals
- Big Inning Leads Miners to Win in River City Finale - Southern Illinois Miners
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- Lake Erie's seven game winning streak snapped in 5-0 loss - Lake Erie Crushers
- ThunderBolts Fall in Pitchers' Duel - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Boomers Pitch to Series Win - Schaumburg Boomers
- Wild Walk-Off Caps Doubleheader Sweep - River City Rascals
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