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.
The Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball team, located a mere 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis in Sauget, Illinois. The Grizzlies offer baseball fans affordable, family fun at Grizzlies Ballpark with a great view of the St. Louis skyline. They have also won two Frontier League Organization of the Year Awards, three West Division titles, and the 2003 Frontier League Championship. For tickets or general information, please visit gatewaygrizzlies.com or call (618) 337-3000.
The Frontier League debuted in 1993, and is the largest of the Major League Baseball Partner Leagues, featuring teams stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, and from the Ohio River to the St. Lawrence Seaway. More information and the complete 2023 schedule can be found at frontierleague.com.
Frontier League Stories from June 2, 2023
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