Grizzlies Halt Slammers' Win Streak, Take Series Opener
August 11, 2023 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
Sauget, IL - The Gateway Grizzlies lost a 2-0 early lead on Friday night against the Joliet Slammers, and trailed 3-2 at the seventh-inning stretch, but scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh and four more in the bottom of the eighth to pull away in an 8-3 victory at Grizzlies Ballpark, lowering their "magic number" to clinch a spot in the playoffs to nine and breaking the visitors' six-game win streak.
Gateway was able to grab the early lead against Ryan O'Reilly (1-4) on a two-run home run to right field by Jairus Richards in the bottom of the third inning. Joliet would respond on Matthew Warkentin's solo shot to right field to get within 2-1, though Lukas Veinbergs would hold the advantage on the scoreboard for the next couple of frames.
In the sixth, Christian Fedko tied it with another solo home run at 2-2, and Matt McGarry would follow in the top of the seventh with a leadoff solo shot to give the Slammers their first lead at 3-2. In the bottom half, Gateway would mount a comeback. Cole Barr led off the frame with a double, and Andrew Penner then scored Barr on a ground ball to first baseman Zach Biermann, who threw wide to O'Reilly covering first base for a two-base error that tied the game at 3-3. Two batters later, D.J. Stewart put the Grizzlies up 4-3 with an RBI single.
The Slammers nearly responded in the top of the eighth, getting the tying run to third and lead run to second with no outs, but Alec Whaley struck out G.J. Hill and Lane Baremore, then got Tyler Depreta-Johnson to ground out to Barr at third base to keep the slim lead. The Grizzlies' offense then plated four insurance runs in the bottom half to forge the final margin, with Barr collecting a two-run single and Stewart adding a two-run double off Chadler Brierley.
Having lowered their magic number to single digits for their first playoff appearance since 2012, the Grizzlies will look to clinch another series against Joliet in the middle game of the series on Saturday, August 12, at 6:45 p.m. CT. It will be Star Wars Night at Grizzlies Ballpark, with Parker Johnson starting on the mound against Joliet's Turner Larkins.
Frontier League Stories from August 11, 2023
- Titans Split Emotional Twin Bill with Boulders - Ottawa Titans
- Boulders Split Doubleheader with Ottawa - New York Boulders
- Otters' 16 Hits Not Enough in Defeat to Wild Things - Evansville Otters
- Boomers Bomb Bolts 12-4 - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Boulders Turn First Triple Play in Franchise History - New York Boulders
- Washington Holds on for Big Series-Opening Win - Washington Wild Things
- Grizzlies Halt Slammers' Win Streak, Take Series Opener - Gateway Grizzlies
- 'Cats Offense Rallies Too Late, Drops Series Opener to Jackals - Tri-City ValleyCats
- Big Innings Guide Boomers to Victory - Schaumburg Boomers
- Crushers' Offense Powers Past Y'alls - Lake Erie Crushers
- Y'alls Dropped by Crushers to Open Series - Florence Y'alls
- Joliet Slammers Have 9 Action Packed Home Games Left in 2023 - Joliet Slammers
- Boulders Rally, Take Series from ValleyCats - New York Boulders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
