Slammers finish sweep of Miners

MARION - The Southern Illinois Miners lost to Joliet, 10-5, on Thursday night at Rent One Park, meaning the Slammers completed a three-game series sweep after bumping the Miners out of first place in the Frontier League's West Division standings.

The Miners are now 16-12 and remain a half game behind River City in the West after the Rascals also lost on Thursday. Joliet is now 13-16 and in fourth place in the East Division after the three wins.

The Miners took a 2-0 lead in the third inning and starter Billy Griffin was cruising until the fifth, when the Slammers plated six runs and took the lead for good.

Danny Zardon hit a two-run double after three straight hits started the Slammers' rally. Trenton Hill also had a two-run single, while Lee-Jun Kalawaia and Travis Bolin also had RBI hits in the frame.

Every player in Joliet's lineup had at least one hit in the game including former Miners outfielder London Lindley, who went 2-for-6 with an RBI.

Joe Duncan, the rookie from Highland who joined the Miners for his professional debut on Tuesday, went 3-for-5 in Thursday's game and is batting .455. Romeo Cortina and Ben Moore both had two hits.

Marc DiLeo hit an RBI sac fly in the fifth and an error by Lindley led to the Miners plating two runs in the sixth to pull within 6-4, but the Slammers got a two-run triple from Ridge Hoopii-Haslam in the seventh and two more in the ninth when reliever Nick Palacios issued three walks.

The Miners remain at home over the weekend and begin a three-game series against Washington on Friday night. The Wild Things, who lost Thursday at Gateway to snap their nine-game win streak, are 20-10 and in first place in the East Division.