Grizzlies Rally with Four Runs in Ninth to Stun Greys
July 3, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
SAUGET, Ill. - In front of 6,842 fans at GCS Ballpark on Friday night, the Gateway Grizzlies scored four runs in the ninth inning to come from behind and defeat the Frontier Greys, 5-4.
Grant Buckner singled home the winning run to give the Grizzlies (14-28) their fourth walk-off win of the season. The Greys (18-23) led it 4-1 entering the final frame before the Grizzlies strung together four hits and completed the comeback.
Richard Seigel started the rally with a one-out walk. Back-to-back singles by Cody Livesay and Ryan Soares then loaded the bases for Rolando Gomez. Gomez worked the count full and the walked home a run when the pitch missed the strike zone to cut the deficit to 4-2.
The next batter, Blake Brown, singled to score Livesay and bring the tying run to third base. Ben Waldrip drove the tying run in moments later when he singled to right field. That brought up Grant Buckner, who would eventually become the hero. With one out and runners at the corners, Buckner hit the 1-2 delivery right back to Brett Shankin on the pitcher's mound. Shankin couldn't field the sharp grounder as it nicked off his glove and trickled to the third base side, which allowed Rolando Gomez to score the winning run.
Jordan Wellander (1-1) picked up the win after retiring all seven batters he faced and keeping the Grizzlies in the game. He pitched in relief of Vince Molesky who allowed four runs on four hits in 6.2 innings of work.
The home run ball hurt Molesky early in the game, allowing the Greys to take a 4-0 lead after the top of the sixth inning. Brandon Tierney hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning after Julio Rodriguez singled with one out to give the Greys the early 2-0 lead. They tacked on another run with a home run by Jhiromar Veras to lead off the fifth inning and added the fourth run when Dillon Haupt tripled in the sixth inning to plate Tierney.
RHP Bobby Shore pitched well for the Greys in 5.1 innings of work, but lost his command in the sixth. Ryan Soares singled to lead things off and scored after Shore walked three consecutive batters. But that would be the only run the offense would produce until the dramatic comeback in the ninth.
The Grizzlies and Greys will complete their mini two-game series Saturday night. Tyler Thompson (1-4, 3.71) will pitch for Gateway and Eric Kline (0-3, 16.32) will take the mound for the Greys. The game can be heard on the Grizzlies Radio Network, which airs on the 101 ESPN and 1400 AM KJFF. Sam Levitt and Kevin Schaefer will call the action.
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