Miners Sweep Freedom
Published on August 1, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
MARION, Ill. - The Miners snuck past Florence, 2-1, Monday night at Rent One Park to complete the sweep of the Freedom. Boomer Blanchard's clutch two-out RBI single scored Sean Harrell in the bottom of the eighth to give the Miners the lead and victory. Ryan Quigley earned the win, after striking out seven consecutive hitters in three scoreless innings. Clayton Dill grabbed the save. He struck out two in a perfect ninth. Miners pitchers combined to strike out 15 Florence hitters.
Miners rookie Sean Harrell started the eighth inning rally when singled to left field with two outs. The next batter, Nate Hall, followed suit with his second hit of the day to put two runners on base for Southern Illinois. Boomer Blanchard then singled through the hole on the left side of the infield to score Harrell on a play at the plate, giving the Miners a 2-1 lead. Tim Holmes allowed the run and took the loss.
Florence took a 1-0 lead on a bizarre play with two outs in the fourth inning. With two runners on base, catcher Justin Holloway smoked a ball up the middle. After a dazzling diving stop by second baseman Justin Randall to keep the ball in the infield, Chris Curley attempted to score from second base. Randall made the long throw home, which bounced over the glove of Miners catcher Sean Coughlin, enabling Curley to score.
Southern Illinois answered back with a run in the sixth inning when Nate Hall cranked out his sixth home run of the season, a solo blast that tied the game at 1-1.
Joe Augustine was extremely solid, working five innings and allowing just one unearned run. He took a no-decision in his first start since returning from the injured list. The righty allowed just four hits in the game, as he struck out six batters and walked none.
Ryan Quigley relieved Augustine with three perfect innings, striking out a remarkable seven batters in a row at one point. The southpaw moved his record to 3-1 with the win. After the fifth inning, Florence struck out nine times and put the ball in play just three times.
Tuesday the Miners head for Rockford to being a six-game road trip that also includes a stop in Traverse City. The Miners will have righty Ryan Zink (3-4, 5.78) on the mound against Rockford righty Matt Gibbs (1-0, 1.50). It will be a 7:05 p.m. first pitch from Road Ranger Stadium on Tuesday night. The Miners return home on Tuesday, Aug. 9 for a 7:05 p.m. game against Rockford.
Frontier League Stories from August 1, 2011
- Miners Sweep Freedom - Southern Illinois Miners
- Freedom Fall 2-1, Start Six-Game Homestand Tuesday - Florence Y'alls
- Grizzlies End Road Trip with Win in Normal - Gateway Grizzlies
- Gateway Avoids Sweep With 3-2 Win - Normal CornBelters
- Slow Start Stops Sweep - Lake Erie Crushers
- Washington Beats Erie 5-2 - Washington Wild Things
- Slammers Take Series Finale - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Slammers Rally Late to Beat Beach Bums - Joliet Slammers
- RiverHawks Return Home Tuesday - Rockford RiverHawks
- Freedom Start Six-Game Homestand on Tuesday - Florence Y'alls
- Hawks Sweep at WC for First Time in Seven Years - Rockford RiverHawks
- August 1 Joliet Slammers Game Notes - Joliet Slammers
- Doctors, Lawyers Face off this Friday - Rockford RiverHawks
- Bums Win Third Straight - Traverse City Beach Bums
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