Martinez drives in three in Southern Illinois' sixth-straight victory
Published on July 20, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
MARION, IL - The Southern Illinois Miners clinched a series victory over the Evansville Otters with a come-from-behind 5-4 win in 11 innings at Bosse Field in Evansville, their sixth in a row, and got manager MIKE PINTO his 500th career win, spanning over nine-plus seasons with the Miners and Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association/Northern League.
In a game with so many twists and turns, the Miners led by a single run three separate times in the contest. Their initial lead came on a sacrifice fly by FRANK MARTINEZ against Evansville starter Preston Olson in the third inning. Thanks to the pitching of MICHAEL CARDEN and Olson, that's the way the game stayed until the seventh inning.
After Carden was removed following another quality start, pitching six shutout innings, the Otters pounced for three runs on RBI hits by John Schultz and Phillip Wilson to make the score 3-1 Evansville.
Southern Illinois would respond, however, with a huge two-out rally in the top of the eighth.
After PHIL BUTLER drew a two-out walk, the Miners chased Olson, who fanned 12 in six and two-thirds while giving up just two hits. Against reliever Jose Velez, JAY AUSTIN worked an eight-pitch at-bat before walking. A balk on Velez moved the runners to second and third before Martinez came through in a huge way, smacking a game-tying double to left-center field to knot the score at 3-3. MARQUIS RILEY followed with a double of his own to left-center to give the Miners a 4-3 lead.
That lead, however, would not last long. An error allowed J.R. Higley to reach with one out in the bottom of the eighth and he scored all the way from first on a double by Kolin Conner to tie the game once again at 4-4.
The Miners and Otters traded scoreless frames in the ninth and tenth before Martinez doubled to lead off the 11th inning off of reliever Anthony Collazo (0-2). He was lifted for a pinch-runner, and after being sacrificed to third by Riley, RYAN CAVAN singled to left over the drawn-in infield for a 5-4 Miners advantage.
DERRICK MIRAMONTES came on for the save and allowed the potential tying and winning runs to reach base after striking out the first batter of the frame. But the all-star closer struck out the next two batters, freezing Conner on a slider to end the game.
Martinez went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs, tying his season high, while BRITT ROBERTSHAW (2-1) got the win in relief.
Miramontes picked up his second save in as many nights and his 13th of the season as Southern Illinois tied themselves with the Otters for second place in the East division standings. They also clinched the series win over Evansville, the first series the Otters have dropped since the Miners took two of three from them at Rent One Park from June 20th-22nd.
In addition, the win represents the fifth-straight victory on the road for the Miners, who will go for their second-straight road sweep at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. A starter has yet to be determined for Southern Illinois. Zach Fowler will get the ball for the Otters.
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- Martinez drives in three in Southern Illinois' sixth-straight victory - Southern Illinois Miners
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