Grizzlies Drop Opener to Freedom
June 5, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
SAUGET, IL-Moises Melendez fired the first complete game of his season Friday night to lead the Florence Freedom to a 3-2 win over the Gateway Grizzlies in front of 5,226 at GCS Ballpark. The crowd was the second largest of the season for the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies (5-9) wasted little time in taking a lead. Brandon Peters led off the bottom of the first with a base hit, then came in on a Charlie Lisk sacrifice fly. The Freedom (9-5) evened the score in the fourth when Cory Underhill scored on an error.
Breck Draper led off the fifth inning with a double off the left field wall. Draper went to third on a bunt base hit by Joseph Scaperotta then scored on a double play ball to put the Grizzlies up 2-1.
Draper finished the night 2-4 with the run. He also threw out a pair of runners on the bases.
Florence took the lead for good in the seventh. After a lead off base hit, Grizzlies starter Nate Melek retired the next two hitters and then got Steve Pickerell to ground to short. Grizzlies shortstop Alex Kerins misplayed the ball and the inning continued. Erold Andrus walked to load the bases. Melek then walked Cory Underhill forcing in the tying run. Scott Kelly relieved Melek but then walked the first batter he faced, Billy Mottram, forcing in the go-ahead run.
Melek (1-2) went 6.2 innings, allowing all three runs, one earned, on six hits. He struck out three and walked five.
The Grizzlies and the Freedom will play the second game of the series Saturday night at GCS Ballpark. First pitch is 7:05 pm.
Frontier League Stories from June 5, 2009
- Kings Win 6-4 - Kalamazoo Kings
- Beach Bums Earn a 11-7 Victory - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Melendez Tosses Complete Game in Win - Florence Y'alls
- Grizzlies Drop Opener to Freedom - Gateway Grizzlies
- Bolts Fall in Series Opener - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Wild Things Win in Extra Innings Against River City - Washington Wild Things
- Wild Things Get First Win Against Rascals - River City Rascals
- Crushers Knockoff the 'Hawks - Lake Erie Crushers
- Crushers Beat RiverHawks - Rockford RiverHawks
- Otters Trade Randall for Second Time in 10 Months - Evansville Otters
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- Miners Add All-Star Randall - Southern Illinois Miners
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