Miners Make Miracle Comeback to Stun Wild Things
June 26, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners, down 4-0 entering the bottom of the ninth, mounted their largest and most dramatic comeback of the season, with Michael Earley blasting a game-tying grand slam home run and Jerrud Sabourin winning it with a walk-off single to shock the Washington Wild Things and win 5-4 on Friday night at Rent One Park.
After the Wild Things, who led the entire game, scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth against Alan Oaks (2-1), Southern Illinois began their comeback against Joe Iorio by leading off with two walks on four pitches each by Jon Minucci and Toby DeMello. After Washington went to last year's league leader in saves Jonathan Kountis out of the bullpen, Adrian English singled up the middle to load the bases with no one out.
Aaron Gates then flew out to right with no advance by the runners, setting up Earley, who on an 0-1 pitch hammered the pitch from the Wild Things' closer over the fence for a game-tying grand slam. It was the first grand slam by a member of the Miners at Rent One Park since former all-star outfielder Javier Herrera hit one against the Evansville Otters on August 15th, 2012, and it sent the nearly 4,000 fans in attendance into euphoria.
The Miners were not finished. After a strikeout for the second out, Frank Martinez crushed a triple to the wall in left-center field before Sabourin slammed a walk-off single off the fence in right, clinching an improbable series-opening victory for Southern Illinois in Marion.
Fittingly, Earley and Sabourin were the only Miners in the game to have multiple hits as the Miners were shut down through the first eight innings by Washington starter Tim Flight and Iorio on just four total hits. That became a footnote, however, as the Miners had four hits in the ninth inning alone, and took the series opener in dramatic fashion.
They will next go for the series win in game two against Washington on Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. Rookie Jon Klein will start for Southern Illinois, who will retire #13 for former Frontier League Pitcher of the Year and all-time career wins and strikeouts leader Ryan Bird in a special pregame ceremony.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2014 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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Frontier League Stories from June 26, 2015
- Grizzlies ' Bats Fall Quiet Again In Loss To Aviators - Gateway Grizzlies
- Miners Make Miracle Comeback to Stun Wild Things - Southern Illinois Miners
- Aviators Top Grizzlies 9-4 to Take Series Opener in Sauget - Rockford Aviators
- Wild Things lose Game 1 - Washington Wild Things
- Four game winning streak snapped in 3-1 loss - Lake Erie Crushers
- Boomers Blanked at Traverse City - Schaumburg Boomers
- Otters Win 3-1 - Evansville Otters
- Freedom and ThunderBolts Rained Out - Florence Y'alls
- Schaub Sold to Yankees - Rockford Aviators
- CornBelters Rained out at Joliet - Normal CornBelters
- Slammers Game Postponed; Doubleheader on Saturday - Joliet Slammers
- Pete Rose to Visit CONSOL Energy Park Tuesday - Washington Wild Things
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