Marion, IL - The Southern Illinois Miners come back against the Joliet Slammers came short as the Slammers defeated the Miners 6-5 at Rent One Park.  The Slammers took the series 2 games to 1.  Miners starter David Harden pitched six innings.  He gave up 11 hits and six runs, all earned.  He walked three batters and struck out three to fall to 6-2 on the season. 

The Slammers took an early lead off Harden in the top of the first inning when designated hitter Erik Lis hit a two RBI double to give the Slammers a 2-0 lead with one out.  First baseman Kyle Maunus capped off the inning with a RBI double right after Lis to bring him in to give the Slammers a 3-0 lead. 

The Miners scored a run in the bottom of the first inning off Slammers starter Jacob Sanchez to make it 3-1 when Alvaro Ramirez hit a base hit and RBI, his first as a Miner to bring in Darian Sandford who led off the game with a triple.  However, the Slammers came right back in the top of the fourth inning off David Harden when former Miner Brad Netzel hit a three run home run with no outs to give the Slammers a 6-1 lead.

The Miners kept on fighting as Jake Kaase hit a double and RBI off Sanchez in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring the Miners within four runs, 6-2.  The Miners added another run in the bottom of the seventh inning off Sanchez when Darian Sandford hit a two out single to cut the lead to three for the Slammers. 

With the score 6-3, the Miners added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as Chad Maddox pinch hit for Will Block with the bases loaded.  He grounded into a double play off Slammers reliever Chase Doremus, which allowed Carlos Mendez to score in from third to make it a 6-4 game.  Then with two outs and a runner on third base, newly signed Cory Harrilchak hit a base hit to make it a 6-5 game.  Both runs were charged to Doremus.  The Miners fell short as Amalio Diaz earned his eleventh save but closing out the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Ross Davis pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three batters and giving up one hit.  Gabriel Shawn pitched a scoreless ninth inning, recording one strike out.  With the loss, the Miners fall to 30-21 on the season.

COURTESY: Southern Illinois Miners Media Relations

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