DeMello Homers as Miners Walk off over Greys
July 29, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, Ill. (July 28, 2015) - The Southern Illinois Miners trailed in their contest on Tuesday at Rent One Park against the Frontier Greys the whole game until the seventh, when they scored two to tie it up before catcher Toby DeMello completed the comeback with a walk-off solo home run in the ninth to win the game 4-3. It is the fourth walk-off win by the team this year and first walk-off home run for the Miners since early August of last season.
The Greys took the early lead against Rick Teasley with a two-run homer off the bat of Dillon Haupt in the second, but the Miners rallied to get one run back, as Frank Martinez (who was hit by a pitch) scored all the way from first on an RBI double by Steve Marino to make it 2-1.
Zach Tanner would hit a solo home run to lead off the fourth, however, making the score 3-1, and the Miners trailed through the middle frames against the Greys' starter Justin D'Alessandro. After D'Alessandro left the game, however, the Miners took full advantage of shaky defense by the Greys infield. With Nick McBride on the hill and one out in the bottom of the seventh, Adrian English reached on a error by the shortstop and went to third on a double by DeMello (his second of the game). After a groundout for the second out of the inning, with Aaron Gates at the dish a passed ball by the catcher allowed the runners to move up, with English scoring on the play to make it 3-2.
Gates then walked and on a throw to first, McBride threw high as DeMello scored the tying run. Brandon Cowan and Pete Perez (3-2) held the fort in the eighth and ninth before DeMello came up against reliever Steven Wehr (0-1) and crushed the first pitch he saw for his first home run at home this season as well as his third hit of the game to win it for Southern Illinois.
DeMello went 3-for-4 in the game with two doubles and his home run, while Marino also doubled as part of a 2-for-4 game. The duo had all the hits the Miners amassed in the game, with the Greys out-hitting the Miners 6-5 in the game. But it was the home team pulling out the victory in the series opener on a hot evening in Marion.
The Miners will try and win the series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. in game two, starting Jon Klein against Greys right-hander Jordan Kraus.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2014 Frontier League East Division Champions and the 2012 Frontier League Champions. 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 2007, their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the Rent One Park box office at 618-998-8499. For any additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.
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