Rozek Twirls Gem as Miners Sweep Grizzlies
Published on July 1, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, IL - The Southern Illinois Miners received a stellar start by rookie left-hander Aaron Rozek on the mound on Sunday night at Rent One Park, grabbing the lead in the early innings and never letting go in a 5-2 victory over the Gateway Grizzlies to sweep the series and extend their win streak to five in a row.
Romeo Cortina got the scoring started in the second inning, leading off with a solo homer off Gateway starter J.R. Holloway (0-1) to make it 1-0. The Miners would add on in the next two frames as well, with Joe Dudek lining an RBI single into center field in the third for a 2-0 lead. Harrison Bragg then homered for the second game in a row with Joe Duncan also contributing an RBI single in a two-run fourth inning that made it 4-0.
Duncan would also single in another run in the bottom of the sixth inning to push the lead out to 5-0 to back Rozek (2-0), who allowed no runs on just two hits and four walks in his first seven innings with three strikeouts to stymie the Grizzlies' bats in his second start of the season. After walking Jhonniel Alvarez and allowing a single to Artemis Kadkhodaian in the eighth, Rozek departed, and Gateway was able to push two runs across to make the score 5-2 and bring the tying run to the plate. But Michael Starcevich got Jeff Cardenas to bounce out to Austin Homan at shortstop.
In the ninth, the Grizzlies would again threaten with two infield hits against Starcevich to bring the tying run to the plate, but Shane Mardirosian grounded out to Dudek at first against Kyle Tinius to end the game and give the Miners a perfect 5-0 homestand on the week.
Rozek finished with seven innings of work, allowing just three hits and one earned run to get the victory on the mound, with Tinius notching his third save of the year and second in as many nights. Offensively, Duncan went 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Dudek also had a two-hit night with a run batted in and Homan doubled and scored two runs in the contest.
Southern Illinois will look to continue their winning ways on the road this week in Traverse City against the Beach Bums, with a three-game series beginning Tuesday night at 6:05 p.m. Kurt Heyer draws the starting assignment for the Miners while Traverse City will pitch ace right-hander Jordan Desguin in the series opener.
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 July 1, 2018
- Florence Washes out CornBelters to Conclude Canseco Weekend - Normal CornBelters
- Rozek Twirls Gem as Miners Sweep Grizzlies - Southern Illinois Miners
- Grizzlies Drop Finale to Miners - Gateway Grizzlies
- Sloppy Play Leads to Sweep - Lake Erie Crushers
- ThunderBolts Lose Late Lead in 4-2 Loss - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Beach Bums Take Series, Rohn Wins 1300th - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Wild Things Take Series Behind Dorminy's Complete Game Shutout - Washington Wild Things
- Boomers Blanked in Finale at Washington - Schaumburg Boomers
- Otters Fall in Series Finale to Rascals - Evansville Otters
- Rascals Maul Otters in Finale for Sweep - River City Rascals
- Slammers Sweep Lake Erie with Win on Sunday - Joliet Slammers
- Rascals Win Thriller over Otters for 3rd Straight - River City Rascals
- Freedom Bested in Middle-Game with Belters - Florence Y'alls
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