TRAVERSE CITY, MI --
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- The Traverse City Beach Bums rallied from a 4-0 deficit, but fell short in a 5-4 loss to the Southern Illinois Miners in the home opener at Wuerfel Park on Tuesday night.
Southern Illinois’ Brad Miller accounted for all four runs in helping the Miners jump out to a 4-0 lead. Miller hit a two-run homer off of Beach Bums starter Steve Roberts in the fourth inning to open the scoring and converted on a two-run double against B.J. Hagen in the sixth.
Steve Roberts tossed five innings in his season debut for the Beach Bums, allowing just two runs on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts. He was outdone by Southern Illinois starter Chris Wiman, who blanked the Beach Bums over five innings to earn the win in his first professional start. Wiman struck out seven.
Traverse City began the rally in the eighth inning, scoring three times to pull within 4-3. Kyle Maunus led off the inning with a single. Brad Miller walked to put runners at first and second for Brian Lapin. Lapin doubled off the wall in right, scoring Maunus. The relay throw to the plate got away enabling Miller to score and Lapin to move to third. Corey Whiting capped the rally with an RBI groundout in his first professional at bat.
An unearned run in the top of the ninth allowed Southern Illinois to distance the lead to 5-3 as Brad Miller scored on a bases loaded walk by pinch hitter Mike Higa. The Beach Bums were able to escape the inning with only one run scoring.
Mike Phelps, the Southern Illinois closer, entered the game in the eighth inning and struggled with his command but still captured his first save. After walking just seven hitters in all of 2008 and allowing only one run, Phelps walked three in his 1.1 innings and allowed a ninth-inning run but still notched the save.
Scott Billak, making his Beach Bums debut, walked to start the ninth but was forced out on a fielder’s choice. Brad Miller doubled off the top of the wall in right, narrowly missing tying the game. Brian Lapin drove in the final run with an RBI groundout. The tying run was left at third.
Bryan Frew had two hits to lead the offensive attack for the Beach Bums while Brian Lapin drove in a pair. Shawn Joy tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn Beach Bums Player of the Game honors, retiring all six batters he faced.
