Grays Beat Down Miners, 13-9
Published on August 2, 2015 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Sussex County Miners News Release
AUGUSTA, NJ - The Sussex County Miners lost to the Garden State Grays for the third time in two days with a 13-9 defeat on Sunday at Skylands Stadium. The Grays (8-22) have taken the first three games of a four-game series.
Shawn Payne put Garden State on the board in the first inning. He hit a solo home run off of Miners (24-39) starter Kyle Vazquez to give the Grays a 1-0 lead. Kenny Bryant answered for the Miners in the bottom of the first, however. With two men on and two outs, Bryant lined a single up the middle that scored two runs and gave the Miners a 2-1 advantage.
Sussex County's lead was short-lived. The Grays scored multiple runs for four consecutive innings, from the third through the top of the sixth. Garden State outscored the Miners 12-2 in that span and took a 13-4 lead.
Payne and Yefry Castillo both turned in career days at the plate with four RBI each. Payne went 3-for-4 with a home run and scored three times. Castillo was 4-for-5 with a double and a run.
Bryant was one of the Miners' lone brights spot at the plate. In addition to his two-run single in the first, Bryant hit a towering two-run homer in the fourth. To that point, Bryant had the Miners only two hits and had driven in all four of their runs.
Unfortunately for Sussex County, Bryant did not get the opportunity to build on his strong start. In the middle of the sixth inning, Bryant paused in left field and jogged toward the Miners' clubhouse in discomfort. He left the game and Jayson Hernandez came in to replace him. It was the first time Hernandez had played the outfield in his professional career.
Hernandez later had the opportunity to tackle another career-first. He made his professional pitching debut in the ninth inning. Hernandez was the sixth pitcher used by a Miners staff that gave up a season-high 19 hits and walked a season-high-tying 10 men. The Miners' regular catcher, however, pitched a scoreless frame.
Ryan Mathews represented another positive performer at the plate for Sussex County. He hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning and finished the day 2-for-5 with three runs.
Vazquez (2-5) took the loss for the Miners. The starter lasted four innings and surrendered six runs on six hits. Vazquez walked seven men and struck out three.
Zach LeBarron earned the win in relief for the Grays. Garden State's starting pitcher, John Tangherlini, only pitched four innings, so LeBarron (1-0) was credited with the win after allowing one run over two innings out of the bullpen. LeBarron gave up three hits, but did not walk a batter.
The Miners will try to salvage the final game of the four-game series with the Grays on Monday night at Skylands Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
Canadian American League Stories from August 2, 2015
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- Grays Beat Down Miners, 13-9 - Sussex County Miners
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- Huge Seventh Inning Lifts Boulders over Jackals - New York Boulders
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