Miners Sweep Doubleheader with Pair of Shutouts
Published on August 1, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, IL - The Southern Illinois Miners kept their winning ways going, improving to 7-2 on their current homestand thanks to two shutout victories over the Traverse City Beach Bums in a doubleheader on Wednesday night at Rent One Park, each with a 2-0 final score thanks to complete-game shutouts by Geno Encina and Kurt Heyer.
In the first game, a leadoff error by Steve Lohr allowed Joe Duncan to reach base in the first inning. After stealing second base, he moved to third on Nolan Earley's single and scored on Chance Shepard's subsequent hit to make it 1-0. In the bottom of the third, Shepard tripled off of Beach Bums starter John Havird (3-7), and scored when Harrison Bragg singled to center field with two outs to double the advantage to 2-0.
That was all Encina (3-6) needed, as the right-hander won his second start in a row, blanking the Beach Bums on just three hits with three strikeouts and four walks to give the Miners the edge in the twin-bill.
In the second game, Heyer and Reinaldo Lopez (7-4) held the other team's offense scoreless until the bottom of the third inning- former Traverse City infielder and Miners shortstop Max Dutto led off with a single, and after a sacrifice bunt, Romeo Cortina came up to the plate and hit a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homer, putting Southern Illinois up 2-0.
Heyer (6-5) took it from there, as he also completed the game and shut out the Beach Bums, allowing four hits and no walks along with eight strikeouts to come within one of a season- and career-high. It marked the first time the Miners had recorded back-to-back shutout wins since May of 2015, as Southern Illinois kept pace in the West Division standings and moved back above the .500 mark on the season at 33-32.
The Miners will look to sweep the series at home on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m., sending Aaron Rozek to the hill against Traverse City, who will pitch right-hander Justin Finan.
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 August 1, 2018
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