Andrew Dean threw six shutout innings as the first place Schaumburg Boomers kicked off Independence Day weekend and a six-game homestand with a 4-0 blanking of the Southern Illinois Miners.
The Boomers recorded just four hits in the win but Dean and the combination of three relievers were able to limit Southern Illinois to just five, leaving nine runners on base including four in scoring position. Schaumburg took the lead in the bottom of the third. Clint Hardy led off with a walk and stole second before eventually scoring the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly from Alberto Schmidt. Chase Dawson singled home a run in the fourth and Nick Ames added a two-run opposite field double to chase the Southern Illinois starter, former Schaumburg hurler Gunnar Kines, from the game after just 3.1 innings.
Dean walked two and struck out four in his six blank frames. Stephen Chamblee, Thomas Nicoll and Darrell Thompson all tossed a scoreless inning to complete the victory. Alec Craig reached base three times and recorded a stolen base. The Boomers stole three bases in the game. Dawson finished with a pair of hits.
The Boomers (19-14) are a season high five games over .500 and have won three in a row to also match a season high. The series continuess tomorrow night with a 6:00 p.m. contest featuring more postgame fireworks. RHP Orlando Rodriguez (3-1, 3.11) takes the mound against RHP Trent Johnson (0-3, 5.28). Visit www.boomersbaseball.com for tickets and information or call 847-461-3695.