FL Gateway Grizzlies

Grizzlies Fall to Slammers in Season Openers

May 18, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release


SAUGET, Ill. - Fireworks were not in short supply Friday night at GCS Ballpark as a wild opening day saw the Gateway Grizzlies fall 7-1 to the reigning Frontier League champion Joliet Slammers. A crowd of 5,437 saw the Grizzlies drop to 0-1 on the season.

A Slammer grand slam in the first inning set the pace for the visiting club, who in the end racked up ten hits with eight of the knocks hung in the first two frames. Grizzlies starter and former St. Louis Cardinal farmhand Cale Johnson struggled in his Gateway debut, allowing six earned on seven hits with five walks in his three innings of work.

"You can't walk that many people and expect to win," Grizzlie Manager Phil Warren said. "No matter what, you've got to bear down and make pitches."

Gateway bullpen arm Chris Enourato gave up one run in two innings but walked two. Kolby Moore and Zac Treece each pitched two scoreless innings. Gateway could never get untracked against Joliet right-hander Tommy Mendoza, who gave up just one run on five hits over five innings.

Gateway designated hitter Case Rigby, one of two returnees in the starting lineup, provided the lone offensive bright spot on Friday with a solo homer over the left-field wall in the third. He just missed a second homer in the fifth when Joliet's Zach Mandelblatt, who had two homers and five RBI, reached over the wall to steal away a homer. Rigby, who did not homer in 99 at-bats last season, says the offense is capable of a better effort.

"We can hit the ball, but this is just one game," he said. "We can't hang our heads. We've just got to go out there and do it."

At the dish Rigby and outfielder Jon Myers, batting out of the No. 9 hole in the order, had two hits each. Leadoff man and second baseman Jonathan Johnson just missed a two-run homer in the fifth. The drive down the right field line was ruled inches foul, and Warren was ejected arguing the call.

The loss was a difficult one, but Warren says he will quickly push it aside. "We have 95 more, this is just one," he said. "You've got to forget about it and move on."

Gateway returns to action on Saturday night for the middle game of the series with Joliet. It's Can Coolie Giveaway presented by Bel-O. First pitch is set for 7:05.

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