Miners Split Doubleheader with Traverse City
Published on June 15, 2017 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, Ill. (June 14, 2017) - The Southern Illinois Miners split a doubleheader on Wednesday night against the Traverse City Beach Bums, scoring six runs in the sixth inning to come back from a three-run deficit and win 6-3 in the first game before falling 6-0 in the second game at Rent One Park.
In game one, Ethan Gibbons (3-1) and Reinaldo Lopez kept the opposition off the scoreboard until the top of the fourth inning, when Will Kengor's double, a passed ball and a wild pitch scored the game's first run to make it 1-0. Traverse City scored two more runs in the fifth after two walks led off the inning by Gibbons on an RBI single by Arby Fields and a double-play grounder for a 3-0 lead. Gibbons pitched a quality start, allowing just two earned runs on five hits in six innings to keep the Miners in the game.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Miners would bat around and not only tie the game, but surge ahead as well. After Ryan Lashley led off the frame with a single, Marc Flores walked and Kurt Wertz, Jr. singled to load the bases with no one out, and Traverse City went to their bullpen and brought in closer Jacob Lanning (0-3). Justin Chigbogu's sacrifice fly got the Miners on the board and made it 3-1. Ben Moore was then hit by a pitch to re-load the bases, and Willi Martin's pinch-hit walk forced in another run to make it 3-2. London Lindley followed with the big blow of the inning, a go-ahead, two-run single to center field that gave the Miners their first lead at 4-3. A Craig Massey sacrifice fly and a wild pitch scored two insurance runs later in the big inning and made it 6-3 Southern Illinois before John Werner pitched a scoreless ninth to nail down the save and the victory.
In the second game, after two walks in the first inning by Kody Knaus (0-1), with two outs, Alexis Rivera hit a three-run home run to give Traverse City a 3-0 lead. Knaus worked out of trouble in the second despite two walks, but a pair of walks leading off the third inning chased him from the game. Kengor then hit a three-run homer of his own off reliever Austin Dubsky to make it 6-0. Dubsky would settle down and pitch four innings out of the bullpen, striking out a career-best five in the game while permitting just one baserunner other than Kengor, but Augie Gallardo (3-1) held the Miners' offense down over six innings of work as Southern Illinois split the twin-bill in Marion.
The Miners and Beach Bums will settle the series with a rubber match on Thursday night beginning at 7:05 p.m. It will feature a matchup of rookie left-handers, with Chris Washington making his first pro start for Southern Illinois and John Havird getting the ball for Traverse City.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2016 Frontier League West Division Champions, the 2014 and 2015 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.
Frontier League Stories from June 15, 2017
- Beach Bums Split Doubleheader with Miners - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Miners Split Doubleheader with Traverse City - Southern Illinois Miners
- Florence Outlasts Bolts - Windy City ThunderBolts
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