For the Miners on Wednesday night, it wasn’t all that simple to begin the contest against the basement dwelling Aigles. Jacob Casson got the start and as it has been for him this season, he seems to cruise along until the fifth or sixth inning until everything seems to unravel. Last night it was the fifth inning for Casson.
Trois-Rivières put up three runs, taking the lead 4-3 after the Miners got out to a 3-0 lead through three and a half innings. Prior to Trois-Rivières three run outburst, the Miners offense got out in front in the top of the first inning. Gabriel Maciel hit a one out solo home run to get the Miners ahead 1-0. Top of the fourth inning, after Hunter D’Amato walked to load the bases, Dean Ferrara would single home two more making the lead 3-0. Aigles outfielder, Sam Franco, hit a solo home run to answer the Miners going to the fifth inning.
Miners bats returned the favor of Trois-Rivières’ three run fifth inning to tie it again. Gabriel Maciel would deliver a sacrifice fly to score Haiden Walters and the Miners wouldn’t look back. In the top of the seventh, Sussex County brought the rain, Sandro Gaston singled home Evan Berkey, Edwin Mateo would drive in two more with a base hit, Hunter D’Amato drove in another with a double and finally Dean Ferrara hit a sacrifice fly to cap off a six run inning.
Kiko Romero would continue their hot streak with a solo homer, his 15th and team leading home run. Dean Ferrara closes in on single season history with his 24th double of the year. Currently only three Miners have had more doubles in a season, Trey Hair (27), Mikey Reynolds (28) and Chuck Taylor (26).
Matt Stil returned to form with three strong innings and four strikeouts. Stil, lands in the top ten all-time on the Miners strikeouts list at number nine with 136 punchouts, and currently is number three all-time in pitcher appearances with 83. The man who owns the number one spot took it for his own last night, Billy Parsons, etched his name at the tip of list. With his most recent appearance, Parsons has appeared officially in 102 games as a Miner, surpassing Tyler Luneke’s 101. Parsons is also second in wins (20), strikeouts (224),And is third in innings (234).
Up next for the Miners is the final game of the series against Trois-Rivières tonight at 7:05 EDT. Miners need to win every game they possibly can to stay in a position to take the final spot in the playoffs. Miners, sit six and a half behind New York for that last spot with 11 games remaining including four versus New Jersey and the final six game homestand versus Brockton and Tri-City, both teams are eliminated from playoff contention.
New Jersey plays Brockton tonight before welcoming the Miners for four games, a doubleheader starting at 5:00pm with Saturday’s game slated for a 7:30pm start and a 2:05pm Sunday first pitch. Jackals will finish with a tough test, while the Miners play two eliminated teams at home, New Jersey will have a tough three game series against Quebec on the road followed by what could be a decider on the first wild card with Ottawa going to Hinchliffe Stadium for four games to close the season.
If the Miners can get some luck, win the series versus New Jersey, and handle business at home, they still definitely have a shot at the Frontier League Playoffs. It all starts tonight with right hander Tristan Harley going for Sussex County looking for a big sweep of the Trois-Rivieres Aigles. Watch every moment on the Miners Broadcast. On the Frontier League Network powered by HTN and on the Miners Radio Network on Mixlr.com/scminers