Grizzlies Take Opener in Normal
Published on July 25, 2010 under Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
NORMAL, Ill.- The Gateway Grizzlies defeated the Normal CornBelters 4-2 Sunday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Corn Crib.
Gordie Gronkowski put Gateway on the board in the fourth inning with his second home run of the year. The two-run shot followed a ground rule double earlier in the inning by Matty Johnson.
Third baseman Daniel Cox answered for Normal (25-33) in the bottom of the inning. Cox connected for his ninth homer of the year with one out in the inning to make it 2-1 Grizzlies after four.
Johnson led off the sixth inning with an infield hit, then scored on a Brandon Peters single to center to make it 3-1 Grizzlies. Normal answered again, scoring on an error in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-2.
Johnson finished the night 2 for 4 with the two runs. Gronkowski was 1 for 3 with the long ball.
Ricky Meinhold (1-2) worked six innings for the win Sunday night. Meinhold allowed both runs, one earned, on three hits. He struck out four.
Eric Gilliland pitched the seventh inning, and got into a bases-loaded jam with one out. Gilliland proceeded to strike out the Brad Augustin and Cox to end the inning, and leave the bases loaded. Normal threatened again in the eighth. David Goodenough started the inning and gave up a single to Ross McCoy. McCoy went to third on an errant pick-off attempt. After retiring one hitter, Goodenough left and Jake Shafer relieved. Shafer struck out Adam Amar, then intentionally passed left-handed hitting Asif Shah. He got pinch-hitting Mike Dufek to pop out, leaving the runner at third.
Breck Draper gave the Grizzlies (31-27) some breathing room in the ninth. Draper singled to drive home Charlie Lisk for the final margin. Draper was 1 for 3.
The Grizzlies and the CornBelters continue the series with a 7:05 pm game Monday night in Normal.
Frontier League Stories from July 25, 2010
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- ThunderBolts Continue Rise - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Crushers Post 11 Hits in Loss - Lake Erie Crushers
- Normal Fails To Get Big Hit - Normal CornBelters
- Dempsey's Grand Night Helps Wild Things Power Past Cruisers - Washington Wild Things
- Grizzlies Take Opener in Normal - Gateway Grizzlies
- Alia Homers, Beach Bums Fall - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Kings Make Maloney Official - Kalamazoo Kings
- Crushers and Cruisers Play Deep into the Night - Lake Erie Crushers
- Grizzlies fall to Miners - Gateway Grizzlies
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