Miners Back Montefusco To Even Series
Published on August 27, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
MARION, ILL. (AUGUST 27, 2014) - The Southern Illinois Miners used a strong start from ANTHONY MONTEFUSCO (1-0) and a big double-play in the ninth inning with the tying run at second base to beat the Traverse City Beach Bums 4-3 and even up the series at one game apiece at Wuerfel Park on Wednesday night.
Montefusco was stellar over a career-high seven innings, allowing just three hits and two unearned runs while walking two and striking out a career-high five in earning his first professional win. Traverse City would score both of those unearned runs in the first thanks to two catcher's interference plays as well as a walk, a sacrifice fly and an RBI single.
The Miners would tie the game in the third as RYAN CAVAN walked with one out and NIKO VASQUEZ hit a ground-rule double. An infield single hustled out by FRANK MARTINEZ brought home the first run, and CHRIS BURKE would single home Vasquez. In the next inning, MATT HOWARD would lead off with a double, his first hit against his former team in the series, and after a bunt put him at third, he scored ahead of a tag on an RBI groundout to the drawn-in infield by JAY AUSTIN to give the Miners the lead at 3-2.
An RBI single in the eighth with two outs by PHIL BUTLER would make it 4-2, giving Southern Illinois what would prove to be a huge insurance run. In the ninth, STEW BRASE would come on for the save. After allowing a solo home run that made it 4-3, two walks put the tying run in scoring position and the potential winning run on first. But a line-drive was hit right at Burke at first and he stepped on the bag for the force-out, completing a double-play to end the game and give Brase his second save.
The Miners will look to win the series in the rubber match tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. CDT. RICK TEASLEY will pitch for the Miners against Ian MacDougall for Traverse City.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2012 Frontier League Champions and have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception. They also set a new Frontier League attendance record in 2007, their inaugural season. For ticket information, please 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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