Grizzlies Fall Hard in Series Finale
June 11, 2023 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
Sauget, IL - The Gateway Grizzlies had leads of 8-2 and 12-7 on Sunday afternoon against the Tri-City ValleyCats, but a nine-run eighth inning and an eight-run ninth inning snowed them under in what ended up as a 24-12 loss at Grizzlies Ballpark.
The Grizzlies pounced on Tri-City starter Rafi Vazquez in the first inning, with back-to-back RBI singles by Peter Zimmermann and Andrew Penner making the score 2-0. After the ValleyCats got both runs back in the top of the second, the Grizzlies batted around and scored four runs in the third inning thanks to six total hits in the inning as well as two-run singles by Clint Freeman and D.J. Stewart to make the score 6-2. Two more runs scored for Gateway in the fourth, including a solo home run by Zimmerman, increasing the lead to 8-2.
The ValleyCats' comeback began the very next half inning, scoring four runs back on two-run home runs by Carson McCusker and Aaron Altherr to make the score 8-6. Another run scored on an Altherr RBI single in the seventh inning to make it a one-run game, but with the bases loaded and none out, Trevor Tietz held the lead at 8-7 by getting a strikeout and a double-play.
Gateway then batted around and scored four runs again in the bottom of the seventh, with RBI hits from Jairus Richards and Gabe Holt, as well as sacrifice flies from Freeman and Stewart, giving the home team a 12-7 lead. But the next two innings proved to be disastrous for the Grizzlies' bullpen, as Tri-City scored nine runs in the top of the eighth to vault in front 16-12, including three home runs. They would bat around again in the ninth, scoring eight runs, seven of which came across on two more home runs, for the final margin, taking the rubber game of the three-game series.
The Grizzlies will look to bounce back when their home stand continues against the New Jersey Jackals on Tuesday, June 13, with first pitch at Grizzlies Ballpark at 6:45 p.m. CT.
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