Miners Storm Back to Top Slammers in Extras
Published on May 27, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Joliet, IL - The Southern Illinois Miners trailed 5-0 through the first five innings against the Joliet Slammers on Sunday afternoon, but would roar back into the game, scoring four runs in the sixth, then one in the ninth to send the game to extra innings before going ahead on Chris Scura's two-run single in the 11th inning and winning 7-5 at Joliet Route 66 Stadium.
Joliet scored single runs in the first, second and third innings against Southern Illinois starter Billy Griffin to go ahead early, then added on two runs in the fifth to make the score 5-0. Joliet starter Taylor Goshen shut out the Miners over the same span, but in the top of the sixth inning, Southern Illinois turned the tide.
Joe Dudek led off with a single to extend his hit streak to 10 games in a row. Two batters later, Romeo Cortina singled and Anthony Critelli followed with a walk to load the bases with two outs. A passed ball put the Miners on the board at 5-1, and Corey Dempster came up clutch with a two-run single to slice the Slammers lead to 5-3. After Dempster took second base on the throw to the plate, Marc DiLeo followed with a single to score Dempster and make it a 5-4 game.
The Miners were unable to get the game tied in the seventh and eighth innings, setting up the top of the ninth. Dempster led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second base by DiLeo. John Holland singled up the middle to advance Dempster to third base, and after a strikeout for the second out of the inning, with the Miners down to their final out, Dudek hit a sharp ground ball up the middle that hit the pitching rubber and bounced high in the air, allowing Dudek to reach and Dempster to score to tie the game at 5-5.
Joliet nearly won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Travis Bolin doubled leading off and Cody Clark reached on a bunt single, putting the winning run at third base with no one out. John Werner came in to pitch, and got former Miner London Lindley to line out to the drawn-in shortstop. After an intentional walk, Werner got Danny Zardon to ground into a fielder's choice with the putout at the plate for the second out, and then struck out Justin Garcia swinging to escape the jam and send the game to extra innings.
After neither team scored in the 10th inning, the game moved to the 11th with the International Tiebreaker putting Dempster on second base to start the inning. DiLeo worked a walk, and Holland sacrificed the runners to second and third base. Chance Shepard was then intentionally walked to load the bases for Scura, who had pinch-run for Dudek after his game-tying hit in the ninth, and Scura came through with what proved to be the winning hit, a two-run single that gave the Miners their first lead at 7-5.
In the bottom of the 11th, the Slammers loaded the bases with two outs on a hit-by-pitch and another intentional walk, but Ryan Askew (1-0) got Zardon to line out to Holland at shortstop to preserve the comeback victory and give the Miners their second-straight series win.
Dempster led the way offensively for the Miners, going 1-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs, while Cortina went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two stolen bases. Ben Moore finished 3-for-6 with a triple, and Dudek ended up 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI as well as Southern Illinois finished their road trip with a 4-2 record and broke back above the .500 mark at 8-7 on the season.
The Miners return home following the Memorial Day holiday on Monday to open up a six-game homestand at Rent One Park beginning on Tuesday, May 29th against the Normal CornBelters at 7:05 p.m. Robby Rowland will pitch in the series opener for Southern Illinois, while Scott Sebald will take the mound for Normal.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the Frontier League's winningest franchise since debuting in 2007, winning the 2012 Frontier League Championship as well as division titles in 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016. 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 their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the box office at (618) 998-8499. For additional information, visit our website at www.siminers.com.
Frontier League Stories from May 27, 2018
- Belters Take Both Home Series and Chirino Ties for Second All-Time in Hits - Normal CornBelters
- Losing Streak Reaches Four Games As Florence Falls Again - Florence Y'alls
- ThunderBolts Drop Rubber Match 8-0 - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Wild Things Sweep Florence with Comeback Win - Washington Wild Things
- Evansville Drops Heartbreaker in Extras 2-1 against Traverse City - Evansville Otters
- Benard Provides 12th Inning Magic as Beach Bums Take Series vs Evansville - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Miners Storm Back to Top Slammers in Extras - Southern Illinois Miners
- Slammers Slip in Extra Innings to Southern Illinois - Joliet Slammers
- Smith's Gem Propels Gateway to Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Fowler Turns in Solid Outing in 2-1 Loss to Gateway - Schaumburg Boomers
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