Grizzlies Hold on for Series Opening Victory
Published on July 17, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
GRIZZLIES HOLD ON FOR SERIES OPENING VICTORY
SAUGET, IL - The Grizzlies used the long ball once again as they powered their way past the Lake Erie Crushers on Friday night 8-7 in front of 4,526.
The game was the first of a three game series and the first of a six-game homestand for Gateway.
The Grizzlies homered six times in the game, and won despite committing five errors.
The Grizzlies have now beaten the Crushers three out of the four times they've played them this season. The Grizzlies have also now won seven of their last ten games.
The Grizzlies took an early two run lead in the second inning on a two-run home run by Joseph Scaperotta. Scaperotta would later homer for the second time in the game, giving him fourteen long balls for the season.
The Crushers regained the lead in the top of the third inning before Gateway rallied back in the bottom half on a Charlie Lisk two run home run, which regained the lead. The home run for Lisk was his league leading eighteenth.
Lake Erie tied the game in the top of the fourth before the Grizzlies answered with two more solo home runs by Brandon Peters and Stephen Holdren in the fifth to take a six to four lead. Holdren finished the game 3-3 and a triple short of the cycle.
Lake Erie cut the Grizzlies lead to one run in the eighth, before Scaperotta and Chad Rothford hit back to back home runs in the eighth to extend the Gateway lead to three.
The Crushers threatened in the ninth with two more runs, but Eric Ridener shut the door for the Grizzlies with the tying run left on second. It was Ridener's second save of the season. Nate Melek earned the win for the Grizzlies. Melek gave up four unearned runs over seven innings, scattering six hits and striking out five.
The Grizzlies and Crushers meet for game two Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m.
Frontier League Stories from July 17, 2009
- Sliders Come Back from Break Swinging - Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti
- Grizzlies Hold on for Series Opening Victory - Gateway Grizzlies
- Kings Snap RiverHawks' Win Streak, 12-3 - Rockford RiverHawks
- Gateway Outslugs Lake Erie - Lake Erie Crushers
- Freedom Drop First Game After Break - Florence Y'alls
- Sliders Make it Four in a Row over Rascals - River City Rascals
- Washington Beats Evansville 5-2 - Washington Wild Things
- Beach Bums Snap Slide With Convincing Win Over Champs - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Windy City Falls to Beach Bums - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Wehrle Drives in Run at All-Star Game - River City Rascals
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