Grizzlies Drop Series Opener to Miners
June 21, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
MARION, IL-For the second time in less than a week, the Gateway Grizzlies forged a ninth-inning comeback against the Southern Illinois Miners, only to fall in extra innings. Sunday the Grizzlies scored four times in the top of the ninth inning to even the score at nine, before Southern Illinois scored in the bottom of the 10th for a 10-9 win at Rent One Park. The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Grizzlies.
Home plate umpire Joe Louis awarded Miners' outfielder Kevin Koski first base on a hit-by-pitch call with the bases loaded. That forced in pinch runner Justin Randall with the winning run. Grizzlies pitcher John Maschino, catcher Charlie Lisk and manager Phil Warren argued the call vehemently but to no avail. The Miners (16-12) had loaded the bases against Maschino with two hits and a walk, all coming with one out in the inning. Maschino (2-3) suffered the loss to drop to 2-2.
Trailing 9-5, the Grizzlies (11-17) scored four time in the top of the ninth on four hits against Miners' closer Mike Phelps. Brandon Johnson, Jareck West and Chad Rothford each had RBIs in the inning.
The late game excitement was a culmination of a back-and-forth game that saw the lead change three times before the ninth inning.
Joseph Scaperotta homered in the fourth to put the Grizzlies on top 3-2. The home run, his eighth of the year, extended a hitting streak for Scaperotta to 11 games. Scaperotta was 1-4. Chris McClendon added an RBI in the fourth to make it 4-2 Grizzlies. He finished 2-5. Southern Illinois led 5-4 when West doubled to drive in Johnson in the seventh to tie the score 5-5.
Jereme Milons capped a four-run seventh inning for Southern Illinois with a three-run home run that put the Miners up 9-5.
West finished 2-4 with three RBIs. Brad Thoma was 3-5 with an RBI. He singled, doubled and tripled in first three at-bats in order.
The Grizzlies and Miners will play the second game of the three-game series Monday night at Rent One Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm.
Frontier League Stories from June 21, 2009
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