CornBelters top Gateway 6-4
Published on July 30, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
NORMAL - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, snapped a nine-game losing streak at the Corn Crib with a 6-4 win over the Gateway Grizzlies Saturday night. Normal (31-33) has won all seven games against Gateway (27-36) this season, and has won its last three contests.
In a game where the final runs were scored in the 4th inning, it came down to a battle of bullpens. Michael Click (W, 1-1) and Andy Mee combined for 5.2 scoreless innings of relief for Normal. Click was effective under pressure, stranding the bases loaded in the 3rd, and leaving two runners in scoring position in both the 4th and 5th innings. Mee struck out the side in the 6th and allowed just one walk and one hit in 3 innings of work.
Gateway starter Brad Stone (L, 0-5) pitched 4 innings, allowing nine hits and six earned runs. Normal's Marshall Schuler (S, 5) tossed a perfect ninth inning to secure the win.
Gateway's Landon Hernandez started the scoring in the 2nd inning, lining a solo homer over the fence in right-center, his 10th home run of the season. The CornBelters evened the score that same inning, when Tyler Keeble singled in Mike Mobbs who reached on a double.
The Grizzlies kept the runs coming in the 3rd, with singles from both Brian Harris and D.J. Fitzgerald, followed by Joe Agreste's 9th home run of the year. Leading 4-1, Gateway then loaded the bases on three consecutive walks, knocking Normal starter Brett Lester out of the game after 2.1 innings. Michael Click came on in relief and ended the threat, striking out two Grizzlies to leave the bases loaded.
The 4th inning was a productive one for the home team, as Normal loaded the bases on three singles with nobody out. With Tyler Keeble at the plate, Brad Stone balked home Asif Shah from third base, making it a 4-2 game. Normal then tied the game when Andrew Barbaro tripled, scoring both Mobbs and Daniel Cox. A single from Alvaro Ramirez scored Barbaro to put Normal on top 5-4. Later on, Frank Martinez bounced into a fielder's choice that scored Ramirez, giving Normal the decisive 6-4 edge.
The teams meet again Sunday night at the Corn Crib for game two of the series. The Grizzlies send Andrew Caceres Jr. (0-0, 4.21) to the mound against Normal?s Ryan Sheldon (6-5, 2.86) for a 6 p.m. start.
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