Grizzlies Fall to Freedom
Published on September 1, 2010 under Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
SAUGET, Ill.- The Florence Freedom took a 5-1 lead the held on to defeat the Gateway Grizzlies 6-5 in the second game of a three-game series at GCS Ballpark. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Grizzlies (51-39).
The Grizzlies loss, and a Rascals win over Normal drops the Grizzlies to 1 1/2 games back of River City for second place in the West Division and the final playoff spot. Both teams have four games remaining in the regular season.
The Freedom (37-55) used two first-inning home runs to get up 3-0 after just a half-inning. Billy Mottram led off the game with a solo home run. Stephen Shults then followed a one-out walk to Jimmy Baker with a two-run shot.
Matty Johnson led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single, then scored on a two-out base hit by Gordie Gronkowski. The Freedom extended the lead to 5-1 on a two-run home run by Jimmy Baker.
B.J. Dail (7-7) started and took the loss for the Grizzlies. Dail allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings. He walked four and struck out three.
The Grizzlies got a pair of runs in the sixth on a two-run single by Patton to get within two at 5-3. Patton finished 2 for 4.
The Freedom made it 6-3 in the seventh, when Tim Grogan scored on a two-out error.
Johnson and Tyler Heil walked to start the bottom of the seventh inning. Both advanced on a passed to ball. Gronkowski and Logan Parker both came up with run scoring ground outs to cut the lead to 6-5.
Johnson finished 3 for 4 with a pair of runs scored. Gronkowski and Patton each had two hits and two RBIs. Parker was 1 for 4 with a double, his 28th of the year to set a new single-season franchise record.
The Grizzlies and Freedom will play the rubber match of the three-game series Thursday night at GCS Ballpark. First pitch is 6:35 pm.
Frontier League Stories from September 1, 2010
- Normal Dumped After Two Runs Score in Final Inning - Normal CornBelters
- Miners Edge Otters Late in 5-2 Win - Evansville Otters
- Grizzlies Fall to Freedom - Gateway Grizzlies
- Miners Finish Home Schedule with Sweep of Otters - Southern Illinois Miners
- Wild Things Lose Heartbreaker as Crushers Walk off in the 10th - Washington Wild Things
- Reese Leads Beach Bums In Victory - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Wild Win for Crushers - Lake Erie Crushers
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