Bats Explode as Grizzlies Bash Windy City
August 21, 2022 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
Sauget, IL -The Gateway Grizzlies got a chance to stretch their legs offensively on Saturday against the Windy City ThunderBolts, pounding out 13 runs on 13 hits in a consistent effort that included three home runs and four straight multi-run innings en route to a 13-6 win at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
After a scoreless first inning, the ThunderBolts took the lead in the second inning thanks to an error by Steven Ridings (4-1), but would not the 1-0 advantage for long, as doubles by Isaac Benard and Clint Freeman tied the score in the bottom half. With two outs later in that inning, an error by Windy City shortstop Jalen Greer scored the go-ahead run and made it 2-1.
In the very next inning, Gateway sent nine men to the plate and exploded for four runs thanks to an RBI single by Benard and a three-run home run by Kevin Krause to expand the lead to 6-1. Windy City got a run back in the top of the fourth with an RBI single by Matt Morgan, but again, the Grizzlies had an answer in the bottom of the frame. With two outs, Peter Zimmermann drew a walk and Benard then smashed his team-leading 20th home run out of the ballpark to right field for an 8-2 lead. Abdiel Diaz would follow in the fifth by coming up with one out and two runners on and hitting a three-run home run to right field, making the score 11-2 Grizzlies.
The teams would trade runs for the next few innings, with Gateway plating additional runs on an RBI fielder's choice in the sixth and an RBI single in the seventh, both off the bat of Trevor Achenbach, to continue to answer the ThunderBolts' charge against Ridings and the Gateway bullpen, eventually finishing with 13 runs on 13 total hits, including seven for extra bases, to claim the series victory.
Benard led the charge by finishing a triple away from the cycle in a 3-for-5 performance with three runs scored and three RBIs, one of four multi-hit games by Grizzlies batters. Every Gateway starter except one had at least one hit in the contest, and eight of the nine starters also scored at least one run. On the mound, Ridings allowed three earned runs in six innings for the "quality start" and his third victory in a row, striking out five batters and throwing 62 of his 80 pitches for strikes.
The Grizzlies will look for their second sweep of the ThunderBolts this season in the series finale on Sunday night, August 21, at 5:45 p.m. C.T. Carson LaRue will start on the mound for Gateway against Garrett Christman for Windy City.
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