CornBelters Split Doubleheader with Grizzlies
Published on August 12, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
Normal, Ill. - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, rallied in the ninth inning but came up short in the opener 9-7 but rode a complete game from Chris Carmain for an 8-4 nightcap win over the Gateway Grizzlies on Tuesday night at the Corn Crib.
In the opener, the Grizzlies put five straight runners on base after two outs in the opening frame, scoring a pair on a single by Ben Waldrip for an early 2-0 lead. Gateway repeated the offense in the second inning with another two-run, four-hit rally with RBIs from T.J. Bennett and Michael Wing for a 4-0 advantage.
The CornBelters broke through in the fourth inning with two home runs over the center field fence, a two-run drive by Mike Schwartz and a solo blast by Richard Lucas to cut the deficit to 4-3. The Grizzlies used a two-run long ball from Waldrip in the top of the fifth to extend their lead back to 6-3.
A sixth-inning CornBelters rally evened the game as the first four hitters reached base with RBIs credited to a Lucas double, an Ozney Guillen single and a Tyler Shover sacrifice fly for a 6-6 tie.
The Grizzlies surged in front in the ninth with a two-out walk to Wing, who stole second and scored on a double by Waldrip for his fifth RBI of the game, then a two-run homer to right by Richard Seigel for a 9-6 lead. A one-out ninth inning home run by Pat McKenna was the final tally, as with a runner aboard with two outs, Sam Judah's deep fly ball to right center was caught on the warning track to end the game.
Luke Westphal (3-3) earned the win with three innings of relief while Richard Barrett pitched the ninth for his 17th save. Charley Short (6-3) took the loss.
In the nightcap, the Grizzlies again put a pair of runs on the board in the opening inning with four hits, including a Kale Kiser RBI double and a Landon Hernandez run-scoring single. The Belters countered with a hit and three walks in their first frame, including a bases-loaded walk to Sam Judah, but only managed the single run to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Belters tied the game in the second inning when Jhiomar Veras scored from third base on a passed ball, then grabbed a 3-2 lead in the third when Schwartz slipped a home run just over the right field fence to lead off the frame. Aaron Dudley then plated Judah with a double to right center to continue the rally for a 4-2 advantage, then Dudley scored on a double play ground ball to the Belters ahead 5-2.
The Grizzlies cut their deficit to 5-3 in the sixth inning when Waldrip knocked a one-out triple and scored on a ground out by Josh Adams. The CornBelters bought insurance in their sixth with a two-run single by Santiago Chirino and an RBI base hit by Dudley. The Grizzlies plated a run in the seventh with a lead-off double by Tommy Richards and an RBI single by Landon Hernandez.
Chris Carmain (3-0) earned the complete-game win with one walk and three strikeouts while scattering nine hits. Brett Mabry (0-1) took the loss in relief.
The Belters continue the brief home stand with the Grizzlies on Wednesday and Thursday at 7:00 each night. The CornBelters give the ball to right-hander Cullen Babin (5-6, 4.94 ERA) while the Grizzlies are scheduled to start righty Dejai Oliver (2-4, 6.52). Wednesday is Meijer Winning Wednesday featuring four free reserved bleacher seats when presenting a receipt from Meijer at the Mid-Illini Credit Union Box Office, plus a $100 Meijer gift card will be given away and kids 12 and under eat free (hot dog, chips, soda) with a full-price ticket. Meijer will also give away three fully-stocked back-to-school backpacks. The games can be heard live at www.normalbaseball.com beginning 10 minutes before the scheduled first pitch.
THE NIBLET : Mini-Plan Packages for the 2014 season are currently on sale! To purchase Mini-Plan Package tickets, or for more information, please contact the CornBelters today at (309) 454-2255 (BALL) or stop by The Mid-Illini Credit Union Box Office at The Corn Crib during normal business hours.
Frontier League Stories from August 12, 2014
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- Grizzlies and CornBelters Split Doubleheader - Gateway Grizzlies
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- ThunderBolts Drop Opener to Washington 7-5 - Windy City ThunderBolts
- CornBelters Split Doubleheader with Grizzlies - Normal CornBelters
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- Beatty Signed by Chicago White Sox Organization - Washington Wild Things
- Big Inning Vaults Miners Past Slammers - Southern Illinois Miners
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- Slammers Lose to Southern Illinois 7-4 on Monday - Joliet Slammers
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