Grizzlies Cruise Past Slammers for First Win
May 19, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
SAUGET, Ill. - On the heels of a disappointing opening day loss to Joliet, the Gateway Grizzlies turned in an all-around team effort on Saturday night to take game two 8-0 at GCS Ballpark and force a Sunday matinee rubber-match with the Slammers.
Gateway starter Tim Brown tossed a masterful seven-inning shutout for the home club, allowing only five hits with two walks and two strikeouts to register his first win of 2012. The Grizzlie defense was out in full force in the evening affair, aiding their hurler with four double plays and a number of stellar protective efforts. Brown knew it.
"To be honest a lot of credit has to be given to the defense," remarked the 25 year-old righty. "These guys behind me and Lando (Hernandez) behind the plate had my back all night long, and that made it easy for me to settle in and make my pitches and control the zone."
Brown's opposition Steven Maxwell did not fair the same, as the Joliet arm made it only four and a third innings of work before being relieved in the fifth. Gateway knocked around the 24-year-old TC who finished with four earned on six hits and an overall seven run deficit that he handed off to his 'pen.
Highly touted John Shelby was as good as advertised for Gateway, going 2-for-4 at the dish with two runs, two RBI, and a homer that sparked a powerful four-run fourth frame. Shelby knew his assignment and lived up to the billing.
"My approach never changes," jabbed the 5'11, 205 former Kentucky Wildcat. "I'm all about hitting hard line drives and getting on base. If I send one out, so be it. This is exactly how we wanted to play."
Offensively the Grizzlies notched five men in the hit column with three of the five driving runs home. First baseman Jerod Yukubik drove in two runs on an RBI-double and catcher Landon Hernandez turned in a 2-for-3 effort with two runs and an RBI.
Gateway will wrap up the three-game set with the Joliet Slammers Sunday at 3:05 PM. It is American Heart Association Day at GCS Ballpark.
• Discuss this story on the Frontier League message board...
Frontier League Stories from May 19, 2012
- Otters Surge Late for Comeback 10 Inning Win - Evansville Otters
- Miners Defeat Rippers 9-5 in Offensive Fashion - Southern Illinois Miners
- Rascals Held to Five Hits in 6-2 Loss - River City Rascals
- Wild Things Fall 4-3 in Extra Innings - Washington Wild Things
- Button bloop boosts RiverHawks in 6-2 win - Rockford RiverHawks
- Grizzlies Cruise Past Slammers for First Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Grizzlies Pick up First Win against Slammers - Joliet Slammers
- Big First Inning Too Much For Rippers - London Rippers
- Late rally falls short - Lake Erie Crushers
- CornBelters drop 7-2 decision to Windy City - Normal CornBelters
- Boomers Hold off Lake Erie to Improve to 2-0 - Schaumburg Boomers
- Former RiverHawk Called up to Triple-A - Rockford RiverHawks
- Ex-RiverHawk in Triple-A - Rockford RiverHawks
- May 19 Joliet Slammers Game Notes - Joliet Slammers
- Grand Slam Propels Beach Bums to a 6-4 Victory against Freedom - Florence Y'alls
- Miners Win Season Opener - Southern Illinois Miners
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
