Grizzlies Blown Out in Home Opener
Published on May 17, 2024 under Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
Sauget, Ill. - The Gateway Grizzlies were blown out in their home opener on Friday night, falling behind 15-0 before getting on the board in what became a 16-2 loss against the Windy City ThunderBolts at Grizzlies Ballpark.
Neither team scored in the first two innings, but a leadoff hit batter by Ryne Moore (0-1) turned into a sacrifice fly by Joe Encarnacion in the third inning for a 1-0 Windy City lead. In the following inning, a leadoff walk by Moore set the stage for a five-run inning that included an RBI double by J.J. Figueroa, an RBI single by Paul Coumoulos, and a three-run homer by Encarnacion that made the score 6-0.
It did not stop there for the visitors- Parker Johnson relieved Moore in the fifth, and surrendered a two-run double with two outs to Christian Kuzemka to make it 8-0. In the sixth inning, things fell apart for Johnson and the Grizzlies, as Windy City sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the frame on four hits, using a pair of walks, wild pitches, and Gateway errors to aid the big frame that featured a grand slam by Kuzemka as the defining blow.
Down 15-0, the Grizzlies were able to get on the board in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by D.J. Stewart as well as a fielder's choice by Cole Brannen, but the damage was already done, as the Grizzlies fell under the .500 mark at 3-4. In the game, the Grizzlies amassed ten total hits, including two-hit days from Stewart, Kyle Gaedele, and Andrew Moritz, but could not stop the deficit from snowballing in the series opener.
Gateway will look to respond on Saturday, May 18, in the middle game against the ThunderBolts at 6:30 p.m. CT. Collin Sullivan will also be looking to bounce back in his first home start of 2024, opposed by Windy City righthander John Mikolaicyk at Grizzlies Ballpark.
Frontier League Stories from May 17, 2024
- Tri-City Overcomes Eight-Run Deficit But Falls in Extras - Tri-City ValleyCats
- Y'alls' Comeback Falls Short - Florence Y'alls
- Otters Rally for Series Opening Victory - Evansville Otters
- Five-Run Seventh Sinks Titans, Lose Third Straight - Ottawa Titans
- Cook Dominates as Boomers Move to 6-1 - Schaumburg Boomers
- Grizzlies Blown Out in Home Opener - Gateway Grizzlies
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