Parish, Miners Shut Out Freedom To Even Series

From the Southern Illinois Miners

Miners right-hander Matt Parrish who allowed no runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out two and one walk. (SI Miners photo)

MARION, IL  – The Southern Illinois Miners got a phenomenal start from right-hander Matt Parish and beat the Florence Freedom 2-0 on Saturday night at Rent One Park, snapping a five-game losing streak and evening the weekend series at one game apiece.

Both teams got baserunners but no runs in the first two frames, with Florence stranding runners at second and third base in the second when Parish (3-3) fanned Garrett Vail to end the inning. Southern Illinois would grab the lead off former Miner Steve Hagen (7-5) in the third inning when James Alfonso worked the count full and hit his second homer of the season, a solo shot to left field, to put Southern Illinois ahead 1-0.

Between the third and sixth innings, Parish would settle in and retire nine batters in a row, and permitted just three total baserunners after the second inning. In the meantime, the Miners doubled their lead with a two-out, fifth-inning rally. Ryan Sluder singled to left field and Nolan Earley walked before Ryan Lashley singled home Sluder to make it 2-0.

After walking a man with two outs in the seventh inning, Parish departed with the tying run at the plate and six and two-thirds scoreless innings under his belt on just four hits allowed, but the Miners’ bullpen made the lead stand up, as Kyle Grana and John Werner allowed only one baserunner between them in the seventh, eighth and ninth. Werner recorded his West Division-leading 18th save of the season, putting him two behind the franchise’s all-time record for career saves, by striking out Keivan Berges swinging to end the game.
Southern Illinois will go for a series win in the finale on Sunday night at 5:05 p.m., with Zach Cooper pitching for the Miners against Florence lefty Braulio Torres-Perez.

The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2016 Frontier League West Division Champions, the 2014 and 2015 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.