Comeback Falls Short as Grizzlies Lose Finale to Titans
Published on May 21, 2023 under Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
Sauget, IL - The Gateway Grizzlies fell into an early hole against the Ottawa Titans on Sunday, and despite holding the visitors scoreless over the final seven innings of the game, could not come all the way back in a 6-4 defeat at Grizzlies Ballpark.
Grizzlies starter Joey Gonzalez (1-1) had a rough beginning to the contest, giving up four runs on three singles and a three-run home run in the top of the first inning to get the Titans to an early 4-0 lead. The struggles would continue into the second, when the Titans tacked on two more to make it 6-0, and then loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the third.
But Colton Easterwood would get out of the jam without any runs scoring thanks to a strikeout and a double-play ground ball, and would kick off a strong day for the Gateway bullpen that also included a pair of scoreless innings from both Zac Ryan and Trevor Tietz as well as one clean frame for Nate Garkow, giving the Grizzlies' offense a chance to come back.
The Grizzlies first broke up the shutout in the bottom of the third inning, with leadoff walks to Peter Zimmermann and Willie Estrada, followed by a double-steal and two groundouts to first base, cutting their deficit to 6-2. The momentum carried into the third when Clint Freeman hit his fifth home run of the year, a solo shot, to make the score 6-3. Gateway also had the bases loaded and the tying runs on base later that same inning, but failed to score.
In the eighth, D.J. Stewart took Gleyvin Pineda deep to right-center field for a solo home run to inch the Grizzlies closer at 6-4. Then, with two outs in the ninth, Eric Rivera and Freeman knocked back-to-back singles off Titans closer Nelson Gonzalez to put the tying runs on base with the winning run coming to the plate, but Stewart flied out to center field to end the game.
The loss marked the third series in a row that the Grizzlies won the first two contests, but lost in their bid for a three-game sweep.
Gateway will hit the road up to Chicagoland on Tuesday, May 23, for a rematch against the Schaumburg Boomers at 6:30 p.m. Lukas Veinbergs will start the opener of the abbreviated two-game series at Wintrust Field against Boomers right-hander Aaron Glickstein.
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