Miners Knock Off Rockford On Independence Day
July 5, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners secured a 10-4 win at home on Friday night against the Rockford Aviators at Rent One Park on Independence Day thanks to a big game from shortstop Ryan Cavan and early wildness by the visitors, ending a four-game losing streak in the process. With the win, Miners manager Mike Pinto also passes former Evansville Otters manager Greg Tagert for third place on the Frontier League's all-time managerial wins list with victory number 413.
Cavan led the charge offensively, going 2-for-2 with three walks, three RBIs and one run scored as the Miners fell behind, then took the lead, then saw Rockford tie it at 4-4 before a four-run rally in the fifth gave the home team the lead for good.
After two doubles gave the Aviators the early lead in the first, the Miners got an RBI double by Aaron Gates among three walks and two wild pitches by Rockford starter Cole Green to make the score 2-1 Miners. The Miners would chase Green with two more in the third after he gave up a walk in addition to Cavan's first hit- an RBI single- and hit three Southern Illinois batters in the frame.
Rockford would get a two-run homer in the fourth and an RBI groundout in the fifth to tie the score at 4-4 before the Miners rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Cavan led off with a walk, and after a Chris Burke single, Steve Marino reached on a fielder's choice and an error by reliever Michael Schaub (1-3), bringing Cavan home for a 5-4 Miners lead.
Matt Howard then singled to drive in a run before Jay Austin reached on an error allowing Marino to score, and with Gates batting, Austin went for second base and the catcher threw the ball into center field, scoring Howard to make it 8-4 Miners. Cavan would single home two runs in the eighth to complete the scoring.
The Miners will look to make it two in a row when Michael Carden takes the mound at 7:05 on Saturday night, opposed by Rockford's Joey Wagman. The team will retire the number of the franchise's all-time home run king Joey Metropoulos in a pregame ceremony.
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