Rascals Hold off Miners 3-2
Published on September 8, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
O'FALLON, Mo. - A night after the Miners had a historic ninth inning rally, they couldn't come up with the big hit late in a 3-2 loss to the River City Rascals Thursday night at T.R. Hughes Ballpark. With the loss, the best-of-five first round series is tied at a game apiece as the series shifts to Southern Illinois.
River City took a 3-2 lead on Jason Patton's two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning. It was his second long ball of the post-season and capped a three-run rally. The first run of the inning scored when Chris McClendon scored from third base on Logan Parker's sacrifice fly. However, Matt Fields threw to first to double up Doug Sanders who did not tag up on the play.
Ryan Quigley surrendered Patton's go-ahead home run. It was the only hit he allowed in two and a third innings as he took the loss in his post-season debut. Zack Sterner pitched a complete game for River City, allowing two hits off 10 hits. He also pitched a complete game victory against the Miners in the 2010 post-season.
The Miners got on the board in the top of the third inning when Matt Fields singled home Sean Harrell. The next hitter, Ernie Banks, doubled home Fields to give the Miners a 2-0 lead.
Southern Illinois starter Ian Campbell left the game with two outs and a runner on in the fifth inning as the Miners clung to a 2-1 lead. He was charged with two runs on the night after Patton's home run. Campbell struck out two and walked two as he took the no-decision.
The Miners got the leadoff man aboard in each of the last four innings but couldn't advance a runner past second base. The game ended on when Sterner induced a ground ball double play from Will Block.
The best-of-five series will continue on Saturday with Game 3 of the first round of the Frontier League Playoffs presented by Peoples National Bank at Rent One Park. Lefty Shawn Joy (6-4, 3.92) will make the start for the Miners in their first home playoff game of the year against righty Preston Vancil (2-3, 6.06). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Frontier League Stories from September 8, 2011
- Slammers Take Commanding Lead in Series Thanks to More Great Pitching - Joliet Slammers
- Sterner Throws Complete Game as Rascals Even Series - River City Rascals
- Crushers down 0-2 in series after 3-1 loss - Lake Erie Crushers
- Rascals Hold off Miners 3-2 - Southern Illinois Miners
- September 8 Joliet Slammers Playoffs Game Notes - Joliet Slammers
- Austin to Coach at RVC - Rockford RiverHawks
- Miners Offer Free Tickets to Heroes and Their Families for 9/11 - Southern Illinois Miners
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