Grizzlies Top Crushers on Opening Night
May 10, 2024 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
Avon, Ohio - The Gateway Grizzlies scored all three of their runs in the third inning, and held the Lake Erie Crushers to only two runs on three hits in a 3-2 victory at Crushers Stadium in Avon, Ohio on Friday night, winning their season opener on the road for the second straight season.
It was Lake Erie who broke through first against Ohio native and Gateway starter Deylen Miley (1-0) in the second inning, when Ron Washington, Jr. reached on a walk, went to second base on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a single, and scored on a sacrifice fly by former Grizzlie Jack Harris to give the Crushers a 1-0 lead.
That lead did not last long, as Gateway pounced on Crushers starter and Kirkwood, Missouri native Jack Eisenbarger (0-1) in the top of the third. Jose Alvarez and Michael Sandle reached on walks to set up Gabe Holt , whose RBI single tied the score at 1-1. After Holt and Sandle executed a double-steal, Andrew Moritz was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Peter Zimmermann , who drew another walk from Eisenbarger to put Gateway ahead 2-1.
A wild pitch would bring in the final run for Gateway, and Miley held that 3-1 lead for the remainder of his five strong innings in his Grizzlies debut, striking out seven and walking two to earn the win. The Grizzlies' bullpen was also outstanding behind him, combining to allow just a single unearned run on one hit and two walks over the final four innings of the game.
Osvaldo Berrios was charged with the run on a two-out RBI double in the eighth inning by Vincent Byrd, Jr., but he struck out Alfredo Gonzalez representing a potential lead run to end that frame. Lukas Veinbergs was not challenged in the ninth inning, retiring the Crushers in order to pick up the save.
Gateway will go for the season-opening series win in the second game of the weekend set in Avon on Saturday, May 11, at Crushers Stadium. Ryne Moore will make his Grizzlies debut on the mound against Lake Erie's Leonardo Rodriguez, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT.
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, four 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 2024 schedule can be found at frontierleague.com.
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