Miners Sweep RiverHawks
Published on August 11, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Rockford RiverHawks News Release
MARION, Ill. - The Rockford RiverHawks' offense came and went the blink of an eye on Thursday.
Southern Illinois starter Shawn Joy escaped a two-on, two-out scoring threat in the top of the first inning and pitched a two-hit shutout as the Miners beat the RiverHawks, 8-0, at Rent One Park.
The Miners completed a three-game series sweep that included consecutive shutouts of Rockford for just the second time in the team's 10 years in the Stateline.
Joy (6-3) gave up back-to-back singles to Jake Eigsti and Matt Greener with two out in the first inning. He retired 17 in a row before he walked Greener in the seventh. Joy retired the following eight batters in order to end the game. Joy struck out four and 65 of his 88 pitches were strikes. He threw fewer than 10 pitches each in the third, fourth, fifth and eighth innings.
Rockford starter Brett Scarpetta allowed only a third-inning Gordie Gronkowski RBI single through his first six innings, but ran into trouble in the seventh. Ernie Banks' leadoff home run started a 10-batter, seven-run inning than turned the game into a blowout. Scarpetta (6-5) left the game after Boomer Blanchard's squeeze bunt made it a 3-0 game. With two outs, reliever Kyle Kriech gave up a three-run double to Gronkowski and a two-run homer to Matt Fields.
The Miners outscored the RiverHawks, 22-6, in the series. Southern Illinois shut out the RiverHawks, 3-0, on Wednesday. The only other time Rockford has been shut out in consecutive games was Sept. 1-2, 2008, when they lost, 7-0 and 1-0, at Windy City.
The RiverHawks open a three-game series at Normal at 7 p.m. Friday. The game will be aired live on ESPN 1380.
The RiverHawks' next home game is 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, against Windy City. Petco sponsors Dog Days of Summer, when fans are invited to bring their canine companion to the park. Thompsons' Transmissions sponsors Kids Eat Free Tuesdays.
The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, a 12-team independent professional baseball league in its 19th season. Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.
Frontier League Stories from August 11, 2011
- Rascals One Win Away from Playoff Berth - River City Rascals
- Holdren's Triple Big Blow in Rascals' Win - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Crimmel Criminally Good as Slammers Blank Grizzlies - Joliet Slammers
- Pace on Base Six Times in 9-0 Win - Traverse City Beach Bums
- CornBelters Fall to Traverse City - Normal CornBelters
- Grizzlies Offense Goes Silent in Loss to Slammers - Gateway Grizzlies
- Miners Experience Joy of Shutout - Southern Illinois Miners
- Miners Sweep RiverHawks - Rockford RiverHawks
- Otter Four Run Eighth Inning Propels Evansville Win - Evansville Otters
- Wild Things Lose Early Lead and Game to Otters, 4-3 - Washington Wild Things
- Crushers Win Ninth Straight - Lake Erie Crushers
- Freedom Swept by Lake Erie - Florence Y'alls
- Make Your Plans to be the 1,000,000th Fan Tonight - Windy City ThunderBolts
- August 11 Joliet Slammers Game Notes - Joliet Slammers
- 3rd Annual Guns Vs. Hoses Softball Showdown Saturday at GCS Ballpark - Gateway Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
