Two-Out Magic Lifts Miners Past Freedom
June 15, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners trailed the Florence Freedom 3-0 early on Tuesday night at Rent One Park, but scored three runs to tie the score in the fifth with two outs before scoring three more with two outs in the seventh to take the lead for good in an eventual 6-4 win, the Miners' ninth in their last 10 games overall.
Josh Kimborowicz worked a 1-2-3 first inning, but ran into trouble when he walked Collins Cuthrell with one out in the second. Isaac Wenrich then hit a two-run homer to left down the line for a 2-0 lead before former Miner Jordan Brower cracked a solo homer to right-center that gave the Freedom a 3-0 lead. The Miners could not manage any runs off of Florence starter Patrick McGrath (1-3) until the fifth inning, when the first two batters were caught looking at strike three.
With two outs, Southern Illinois would rally, as Aaron Gates singled before Julius Gaines hit an infield single off McGrath's glove to put runners at first and second. Craig Massey then got the Miners on the board with an RBI hit up the middle to make it 3-1 before Alex De Leon tied the game at 3-3 by scoring both Gaines and Massey with a single of his own.
Niether team scored in the sixth, with Kimborowicz settling down and not allowing a hit in his final three innings of work. After a double play, the Miners would again rally with two outs and the bases empty. Gaines singled into center to chase McGrath, and Massey and De Leon would reach against Pete Levitt on a walk and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Florence went back to the bullpen and brought in rookie Matt Pobereyko and he hit Nolan Earley to force in the go-ahead run and make it 4-3. Steve Marino then came up clutch, as the captain lined a single into left-center that scored two more runs for a 6-3 margin.
Florence got a run back off the Miners' bullpen in the eighth inning, and also loaded the bases with two outs, but Jake Cose got Brower to strike out swinging with the tying run in scoring position and the Miners leading 6-4. The Freedom also got the tying run on base in the ninth, but Chris DeBoo got Austin Newell to pop out to end the game.
The Miners will go for the series win on Wednesday night at Rent One Park at 7:05 p.m. against the Freedom, with Jarett Miller taking the hill for Southern Illinois opposite Florence's Zach Isler.
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. For any additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.
Frontier League Stories from June 15, 2016
- Bums Comeback Stalls vs. Schaumburg - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Miners Move into First Place, Clinch Series with Win over Freedom - Southern Illinois Miners
- Eight Straight for Boomers - Schaumburg Boomers
- CornBelters Lose Second Game to River City - Normal CornBelters
- Washington Rallies to Take 10-6 Victory over Joliet - Washington Wild Things
- Late Rally Falls Short - Lake Erie Crushers
- ThunderBolts Ride Chapman Gem to Win at Lake Erie - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Grizzlies Hammer Otters for Second Straight Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Rain Delay Puts Damper On Otter Bats - Evansville Otters
- Rascals Defeat CornBelters in Extra Innings to Begin Road Trip - River City Rascals
- Two-Out Hitting Propels Southern Illinois Past Florence - Florence Y'alls
- Two-Out Magic Lifts Miners Past Freedom - Southern Illinois Miners
- Bums Lose Opener in Schaumburg - Traverse City Beach Bums
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.
