Late Rally Falls Short as Miners Lose to Florence
June 1, 2017 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
MARION, ILL.- The Southern Illinois Miners scored four runs in the middle and late innings to slice a 6-0 deficit down to 6-4, and put the tying run on base in the bottom of the ninth, but fell 6-4 against the Florence Freedom on Thursday night at Rent One Park.
The Freedom scored in the first on a three-run home run by Andre Mercurio off Miners starter ZACH COOPER (1-3) to take a 3-0 lead.
Florence added on with two runs in the fourth on a double by Jordan Brower and another run in the fifth on a single by Mercurio to take a 6-0 lead. Mercurio was thrown out at the plate by NOLAN EARLEY to end that inning, however, and it sparked a Miners rally.
In the bottom of the sixth, LONDON LINDLEY opened with a single and went to third base on two wild pitches by Logan Longwith (3-0). After walks by CRAIG MASSEY and Earley loaded the bases, RYAN LASHLEY's two-run single made the score 6-2. On JUSTIN CHIGBOGU's ground ball to first, Earley then scored from third to make it a 6-3 game.
AUSTIN DUBSKY would keep the Freedom offense at bay by facing the minimum in three scoreless innings out of the bullpen in his professional debut, allowing just one walk while striking out three.
After ELVIN LIRIANO worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth for another scoreless inning, the Miners rallied again against Freedom closer Matt Pobereyko. Chigbogu worked a one-out walk and went to third on a single by BILLY GERMAINE before coming home on a two-out single by JOEL MCKEITHAN to make it 6-4 and put the tying run on first base. Pobereyko, however, struck out CHRIS FORNACI to end the game and secure a series sweep for the visitors.
Lindley and Germaine had two hits apiece, with Lashley driving in two runs in the game as the Miners dropped their fourth straight contest.
Southern Illinois next embarks on a six-game road trip beginning on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. at The Corn Crib against the Normal CornBelters. ETHAN GIBBONS will draw the starting assignment in game one of the series against Normal's Julio Vivas.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2016 Frontier League West Division Champions, the 2014 and 2015 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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