from the Southern Illinois Miners

JOLIET, IL – The Southern Illinois Miners nearly crawled out of a 6-0 first-inning deficit, scoring five unanswered runs to make it a one-run game in the fifth inning, but the Joliet Slammers added on late runs and defeated the Miners 12-7 to claim the weekend series two games to one.

Miners starter Matt Parish (1-1) ran into trouble in the first, hitting the leadoff batter and surrendering the game’s first run after a single put Ridge Hoopii-Haslam at third base on a sacrifice fly by Spencer Navin that made the score 1-0. After a walk to Edwin Gomez, Danny Zardon hit a three-run homer to make the score 4-0. Melvin Rodriguez added a solo shot in the next at-bat to extend the lead to 5-0, and it was 6-0 later in the frame on Luis Diaz’s RBI double.

Southern Illinois got one back immediately when Ryan Lashley extended his hitting streak to 10 games in a row with a solo home run, his tenth of the season, to make it 6-1 in the top of the second inning. Thanks to outstanding relief pitching by Corey Sessions, who tossed three innings with one baserunner allowed, and Damon Proctor, the Miners were able to hold the Slammers’ offense down, with the Miners’ bats rallying in the top of the fifth.

Lashley led off with a double and after Anthony Critelli singled him to third base, Zach Taylor drove Lashley in with a single to make it 6-2. London Lindley then hit another single to bring Critelli home and make the score 6-3, forcing a Joliet pitching change. After a fielder’s choice for the first out of the inning, Romeo Cortina‘s RBI single made the score 6-4, and Craig Massey followed with a single to load the bases for Nolan Earley, who drew a walk from Joe Ortiz (4-2) to extend his on-base streak to 23 games in a row and make the score 6-5.

But the Slammers would rally late to add on to their lead. In the bottom of the seventh, after a hit batter and a walk, Zardon hit a two-run double to left-center field to make the score 8-5, and in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and two outs, Gomez hit a grand slam home run to push the advantage out to 12-5. In the ninth, the Miners got two runs back on RBI singles by Cortina and Massey, but got no closer.

Lindley led the Miners’ 13-hit attack offensively with three hits to tie a season-high, while Brett Wiley, Cortina and Lashley all had two hits apiece. Every player except one in the Miners’ starting lineup finished with at least one hit, with Wiley and Lashley also scoring multiple runs in the defeat.

The Miners return home on Tuesday night to begin a nine-game home stand with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch against the Schaumburg Boomers at Rent One Park.

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.

Press Release from the St. Louis Cardinals

ESPN Monday Night Baseball National Broadcast

Gates open at 5:35 p.m.

• Soccer Theme Night: The Cardinals invite soccer fans of all ages to join us for Soccer Night at the ballpark presented by Barrister’s in Clayton. Fans who purchase this special theme night ticket will receive an exclusive St. Louis Cardinals soccer jersey. Come early for pregame festivities including St. Louis FC, the St. Louis Ambush and an interactive kicking station. Fans must present the voucher in order to receive this promotional item. For more info, or to purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/theme (#CardsTheme).
• Battle at Busch: 105.7 The Point and the Cardinals welcome back the Battle at Busch concert series. The 2017 schedule features 18 local bands over the course of six nights, at six different Cardinals home games in Ford Plaza. Tonight’s battle featuresThieves to Kings and The Volunteers. Gate 6 will open at 5:15 p.m. for the event. Performances begin at 5:15 p.m. with each act given 20 minutes to perform. Each band will be judged on a point system by Mozingo Music and 105.7 The Point. The top four scoring bands of the summer will be invited back to play on September 26 in the Battle at Busch finals for the grand prize package. Tickets are available for $10.57 to each Battle at Busch game by going to cardinals.com/battleatbusch.
• Art of Baseball Culmination: As part of an eight-session Art of Baseball program between Cardinals Care and Springboard to Learning that integrates art, math and technology into an exploration of everything baseball, fourth and fifth-grade students from five local elementary schools in St. Louis City and Hazelwood will present infographics that display their research on a specific area of Major League Baseball data from 5:45-7:15 in the Cunningham Corner. The presentation is open to the public.
• MLBPAA Auction: The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association will conduct a baseball-themed silent auction by Gate 1 (Section 137) and Gate 3 from the time gates open through the fifth inning. All proceeds will benefit Cardinals Care and the Players Alumni Association, a non-profit group that strives to preserve the game of baseball while supporting a variety of charities.