Miners Bask in Joy of 5-0 Shutout
Published on July 31, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
MARION, Ill. - The Miners shutout the Freedom, 5-0, Sunday at Rent One Park. Sean Coughlin led the way, going 3-for-4 with two two-run home runs. Shawn Joy was nearly untouchable, allowing just three hits in six scoreless innings. Eric Suttle added a solo blast. He and Ryan Meade also had three-hit games. It was the Miners fifth shutout victory of the season.
For the second straight game, the Miners jumped out to an early lead courtesy of a two-run home run in the first inning. Sunday it was Coughlin providing the power surge, blasting his eighth home run of the season. The homer scored Eric Suttle, who singled prior to the blast. It marked the fourth consecutive game that the Miner scored in the first inning.
Coughlin struck again in the fifth inning for his second two-run homer of the game, again scoring Eric Suttle and giving the Miners a 4-0 lead. With the blast, Coughlin now has nine homers on the season to go along with his team-leading 44 RBIs.
Starter Shawn Joy rebounded from a rough outing a week ago as he worked six scoreless frames for his fourth victory of the season. He allowed just three hits, struck out three and walked three.
Suttle boosted the lead to 5-0 in the seventh inning with his third hit of the game, a solo shot to left field. He matched his career high with four home runs on the year.
Although the Miners totaled 12 hits, all of Southern Illinois' five runs came courtesy of the longball. Ryan Meade joined Coughlin and Suttle in recording a three-hit night. Meade had three singles.
The Southern Illinois bullpen was dominant after Joy exited the game. Gabriel Shaw, Ben Shivers and Clayton Dill combined to work three scoreless frames. Dill finished off the game by striking out the side on 14 pitches.
Florence ace Andy Clark allowed four runs off 10 hits in five innings. He threw 111 pitches and took the loss, his third of the year. He entered the game looking to become the league's first nine-game winner of 2011.
Freedom Manager Fran Riordan was ejected in the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Jeremy Crowe.
Monday the Miners will look for the sweep when righty Joe Augustine (2-1, 4.70) comes of the injured list to make the start against Florence right-hander Alec Lewis (1-4, 4.54). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Rent One Park on Baseball Bingo Night.
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