It was Country Christmas Night at Tiger Field on Tuesday, but the Madisonville Miners delivered a bag of coal with a 17-4 seven-inning victory over the host Hoptown Hoppers.
The Hoppers slip to 10-13, 4th-place in the South Division, and will host Full Count Rhythm on Thursday.
Hoptown took an early lead on Luis Vergara’s two-out solo home run and added a second run on a Miner error in the 2nd.
After hitting Hoppers’ starting pitcher Garrett Blevins hard but having nothing to show for it, the Miners broke through with three runs in the top of the 4th. Jackson Owen doubled in a run, and James Basham and Kobe Jones added RBI singles.
The Hoppers evened the game in the bottom of the inning when Jacob Dupps connected on their second two-out solo shot, but they wouldn’t score again until their final at-bat.
After an RBI single by Ryne Wallace to put the Miners in front for good, catcher Parker Shroh blew the game open with a grand slam for an 8-3 advantage.
The Miners added three runs in the 6th, highlighted by an RBI double for Jackson Lindsey, before a six-run 7th stretched the lead to 17-3.
Blevins lasted four and two-thirds, surrendering eight earned runs on eight hits with a pair of walks. Cody Hupp, Blake Sarjent, and Oakley Albinson all took turns on the mound for the Hoppers.
Beau Coffman earned the win for the Miners, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Cameron Goble worked the final two frames, giving up a run on a hit with two walks and four strikeouts.
