FL Southern Illinois Miners

Miners slip past Freedom

Published on July 30, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release


MARION, Ill. - The Miners stole the game from the Freedom, 7-6, Saturday night at Rent One Park. Southern Illinois scored four runs in the ninth inning to grab the win, overcoming a 6-3 ninth inning deficit. Ryan Meade and Nate Hall delivered back-to-back one-out singles to tie and then win the game for the Miners. Ben Shivers picked up the victory after he pitched the top of the ninth inning. Freedom closer Corey Martin took the loss, walking four consecutive batters in the ninth.

Closer Corey Martin, looking for his 11th save of the season, imploded in the ninth inning Saturday night. He allowed a lead off single to Ken Gregory then struck out Boomer Blanchard before walking Justin Randall and Sam Wiley to load the bases. Sean Coughlin walked on four straight pitches, giving him his second RBI on the day, and cutting the lead to 6-4. Ernie Banks then drew another bases-loaded walk for the RBI, pulling the Miners to within one run of the Freedom, 6-5.

Brandon Mathes replaced Martin and faced Ryan Meade. The first baseman tied the game when he laced a single into leftfield, bringing the leftfielder Jarred Frierson to his knees on a diving attempt. Nate Hall capped the four-run comeback with a two-strike hit to right field.

The Miners jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Ernie Banks crushed a home run to centerfield, scoring catcher Sean Coughlin. Coughlin reached on a single to left field.

The lead lasted four innings until Brendon Malkowski ran into trouble in the fifth inning. After a one-out walk was issued to Drew Rundle, Kevin Haas followed with a single. Malkowski then hit Junior Arrojo a pitch to load the bases. Malkowski departed with soreness in his back. He had battled back spasms prior to the game. Gabriel Shaw entered the game with a two-run lead. Shaw allowed an RBI single to Juan Valdes, cutting the Miners lead in half, 2-1. The next hitter, John Malloy, tied the game when he beat out a potential double play ball, scoring Hass. Chris Curley followed with a two-out walk to once again load the bases. The table was set for designated hitter Willie Holmes as he broke the game open with a three-run double, giving Florence their first lead of the night, 5-2.

Three of the five fifth inning runs were charged to Malkowski, who had allowed just two hits through the first four innings of the game. The Miners ninth inning rally took him off the hook for the loss.

Freedom southpaw starter Anthony Bello settled in after his rocky first inning. Bello worked six and one-third innings, allowing three runs off five hits. The lefty struck out four Miners and walked four. He was in line for the win before the Miners ninth inning comeback.

Sean Coughlin and Nate Hall were the only Miners to record multiple-hit evenings. The catcher went 2-for-4 with a run scored and drove in two runs, giving him a team-leading 40 RBIs.

Miners relievers Ryan Quigley and Erik Draxton combined to work a scoreless sixth, seventh and eighth inning. They combined to strike out five Freedom hitters. Shivers allowed one run off of a walk and a two-out single in the ninth.

Sunday the Miners will have lefty Shawn Joy (3-3, 4.30) on the mound opposing Florence right-hander Andy Clark (8-2, 3.79). It will be Family Fun Sunday presented by WSIL-TV 3 with a 5:05 p.m. first pitch from Rent One Park in the second game of the series and fifth game of the Miners current six-game homestand.

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Frontier League Stories from July 30, 2011


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