FL Gateway Grizzlies

Grizzlies Sweep Windy City with Huge Comeback

July 27, 2023 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release


Sauget, IL - The Gateway Grizzlies were down 6-0 to the Windy City ThunderBolts in the fourth inning on Thursday night, but embarked on what would become their largest comeback of the season to date, going ahead for good with a six-run bottom of the sixth in a 12-7 win at Grizzlies Ballpark to sweep the series.

With the temperature pushing 100 degrees at first pitch, Collin Sullivan ran into trouble early, surrendering three runs in the third inning and three runs in the fourth before departing the game. Nate Garkow (5-1) then came in and held the line for two and two-thirds innings, striking out four in his longest appearance of the season, allowing the Grizzlies' offense to go to work against 'Bolts ace Garrett Christman.

The comeback started in the bottom of the fourth, when Kyle Gaedele continued his incredible series after being activated from the coaching staff with an RBI single that made the score 6-1. Jairus Richards then hit a solo homer off Christman in the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-2, and with two outs and no one on base in the sixth, Gateway put together a remarkable rally to take the lead for good.

Andrew Penner started it with a single, and Gaedele followed up with another single before Christman issued back-to-back walks, including one to Willie Estrada with the bases loaded, to make it 6-3. After a pitching change, Abdiel Diaz reached on an infield RBI single to make it 6-4, and Richards then stroked a game-tying two-run hit to left-center field against Sebastian Selway (0-2), tying the score at 6-6. Eric Rivera then tripled to right field out of the reach of a diving Will Riley to score both Richards and Diaz to put the Grizzlies ahead 8-6, capping the incredible frame.

Windy City did not go quietly- the ThunderBolts rallied in the eighth against Matt Valin, scoring one run to make it 8-7, then loading the bases with two outs, but failing to get any closer. In the bottom of the eighth, a two-out error by Micah Yonamine at first base opened the door for four insurance runs to score for the final 12-7 margin.

The Grizzlies will look to keep the momentum going when they play host to the Québec Capitales this weekend in a clash of the first-place teams in the Frontier League's East and West Divisions. The series begins Friday, July 28, at 6:45 p.m. at Grizzlies Ballpark, with Joey Gonzalez opposing Québec's Ruben Ramirez as the opening matchup on the mound.

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.

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