Miners Win Fifth Straight, Take Series from Slammers
Published on July 20, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
MARION, ILL. (JULY 20, 2016) - The Southern Illinois Miners built up a big lead behind two big homers, including a grand slam from NOLAN EARLEY, and received a dominant start from DYLLON NUERNBERG before turning aside a six-run, ninth-inning rally from the Joliet Slammers in an 8-7 victory, the team's fifth in a row to clinch the midweek series on Wednesday night at Silver Cross Field.
The Miners got things started in the top of the first, when ALEX DE LEON doubled home SHANE KENNEDY with two outs for a quick 1-0 lead.
Joliet would respond by tying the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second when Jake Gronsky led off with a double and came home when Joe Staley followed with an RBI single off of Nuernberg (5-1). After that, however, Joliet's offense would be completely shut down by the Miners' right-hander, who induced a double-play from Sikes Orvis after Staley's single that ended up beginning a string of 18 straight batters retired spanning more than five innings.
Meanwhile, the offense struck for four runs in the top of the third on one swing with the bases loaded by Earley, the second grand slam of the season for Southern Illinois and the second homer in as many nights for Earley himself, making the score 5-1. Kennedy would bring home another run with a double in the fourth inning for a 6-1 Miners advantage, chasing Joliet starter Kaleb Ort (3-2). Neither team would score again until the ninth, when KURT WERTZ, JR. smacked his first homer in a Miners uniform, a two-run shot that made the score 8-1.
That would prove to be the winning run, as Joliet would mount a rally in the bottom of the ninth and score six runs in the frame. But with the tying run at second and the potential winning run at first, ADAM LOPEZ got Charlie White to ground out to shortstop to preserve the Miners' fifth win in a row and notch his fourth save of the season.
Wertz, Jr. finished 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs while STEVE MARINO and FRANCISCO ROSARIO also had two hits apiece. Earley's grand slam netted him four RBIs, tying his career-best. On the mound, Nuernberg tied his career-high with eight innings pitched while allowing just one run on three hits, walking one and striking out five.
Southern Illinois will go for the sweep and a perfect 6-0 road trip on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. at Silver Cross Field, with DAN LUDWIG taking the hill against Joliet's Liam O'Sullivan.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the back-to-back 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.
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