Grizzlies Outlast Kings In Series Finale
August 16, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
KALAMAZOO, MI-The Gateway Grizzlies scored twice in the top of the 14th inning Sunday and held on for an 8-6 win over the Kalamazoo Kings in the finale of a three-game series at Homer Stryker Field.
At 14 innings and 4:33 minutes the game was the longest of the year for both clubs. The 14 innings ties for the longest in Gateway franchise history. The Grizzlies have played 14 innings three other times in franchise history, the last coming in 2003.
Joseph Scaperotta's double in the top of the 14th scored Joe Agreste and put the Grizzlies up for good at 7-6. Brandon Johnson doubled later in the inning to drive home Scaperotta and give the Grizzlies the two-run lead.
Agreste, Scaperotta and Johnson joined Brandon Peters as the only Grizzlies with hits in the game, though they had 11 between them. Agreste, finished 5-6 with three runs scored. In the three-game series Agreste was 10-14 (.714) with four doubles, a triple a home run and seven runs driven in. Scaperotta, Johnson and Peters each had two hits a piece. Peters and Johnson each had an RBI in the game.
Joel Boeschen earned the win for the Grizzlies. Boeschen tossed two innings. He allowed a run on two hits. Tom Vesely pitched the 14th for the first save of his pro career.
The Grizzlies (32-45) took a 6-5 lead with a run in the top of the 12th inning, only to have the Kings answer in the bottom of the frame. Both teams scored their runs on wild pitches.
In a true back-and-forth battle, the Kings (49-29) took an early lead with a run in the first inning against Grizzlies starter Mark Brackman. The Grizzlies led 2-1 after scoring a pair of runs in the second. Kalamazoo tied the score in the fourth and it remained 2-2 until the seventh. The Grizzlies and Kings each scored three times in the seventh inning to knot the game 5-5. It stayed that way until the 12th.
Brackman went eight innings for the Grizzlies. He struck out a career-high 10 hitters. Eric Ridener tossed three scoreless innings in relief, striking out two.
The Frontier League takes Monday off. The Grizzlies are back in action Tuesday night at GCS Ballpark, where they will host the Traverse City Beach Bums. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm.
Frontier League Stories from August 16, 2009
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