FL Gateway Grizzlies

Grizzlies Rally Late, Stretch Win Streak to Nine

June 2, 2023 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release


Crestwood, IL - The Gateway Grizzlies trailed 1-0 for most of the game on Friday night against the Windy City ThunderBolts, but rallied to score two runs in the top of the eighth, then held that lead for a 2-1 victory at Ozinga Field, winning their ninth consecutive contest.

The game was a pitcher's duel between Henry Omana for Windy City and Joey Gonzalez (3-1) for the Grizzlies. Omana was perfect through three innings, and did not give up a hit until the fifth in pitching six shutout frames with nine strikeouts.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, allowed the game's first run in the bottom of the second when the ThunderBolts got back-to-back leadoff singles and a successful sacrifice bunt before Paul Coumoulos scored Dan Robinson with an RBI groundout to shortstop for a 1-0 lead. The Grizzlies starter would settle into a big-time groove in the middle frames, however, finishing seven-plus innings and striking out six while retiring 11 batters in a row at one point to keep it a 1-0 game.

In the top of the eighth, Gateway's offense finally broke through- Peter Zimmermann singled with one out and Andrew Penner drew a walk from Windy City reliever Derrick Edington (0-1). Jairus Richards then hit a ball back to the mound with both runners in motion, and Edington's throw to second base to try and turn a double play was low for an error, allowing Zimmermann to come home with the tying run.

D.J. Stewart then hit a fly ball to center field that Bren Spillane lost in the lights for a base hit, loading the bases for Willie Estrada, who lifted the eventual game-winning sacrifice fly to right field for a 2-1 Gateway lead. The ThunderBolts got the tying run on base in both the eighth and ninth innings on hit batters, but Alec Whaley and Colton Easterwood held the fort, with the latter striking out two in recording his first save as the Grizzlies took the opener of the abbreviated two-game series.

The first-place Grizzlies will look to run their win streak to 10 games and sweep their road trip on Saturday night, June 3, at 6:05 p.m. CT when they take on the ThunderBolts in the series finale. Lukas Veinbergs will start against Windy City right-hander Cole Bellair before Gateway returns to Sauget next week.

Check out the Gateway Grizzlies Statistics



Frontier League Stories from June 2, 2023


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.

OurSports Central