Growlers Sneak Past Rivets to Win Fifth Straight
July 8, 2019 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Kalamazoo Growlers News Release
Loves Park, Ill. - In a tie game in the ninth inning, the visiting Kalamazoo Growlers (21-17, 5-1) knocked the game-winning RBI single to secure the 6-5 victory over the host Rockford Rivets (21-19, 1-4) at Rivets Stadium Sunday afternoon. The Growlers notch their fifth consecutive win, tying a season-high and reaching this mark for the first time since June 5.
Kalamazoo struck first in the second inning on an Austin Knight (Tennessee) RBI single to take an early 1-0 lead. The Growlers plated three more runs in the fourth as Drew Blakely (Virginia) knocked a two-run single followed by a sacrifice fly from Zack Gelof (Virginia) to stretch the margin to 4-0.
Rockford got on the board in the fifth due to an error to make it a 5-1 contest. In the eighth frame, the Rivets quickly tallied four runs on four hits to even the score at 5-5. The rally began with a RBI single followed by a two-run double by Rockford's Branden Comia to cut the deficit to 5-4. The Rivets then took advantage of another Kalamazoo error to scratch across the tying run.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, the Growlers' offense delivered in the clutch. Gabe Rivera (Univ. of Miami) reached on a two-out single to keep the frame alive and then Rivera stole second base to set-up the go-ahead run. On the ensuing batter, Clay Owens (USC) dropped a crucial RBI single to score Rivera and put the Growlers in front 6-5.
Kalamazoo relief pitcher Eamon Horwedel (Ohio Univ.) earned the win, improving to 3-0. Horwedel compiled three strikeouts with no earned runs allowed on one hit in 1 â..." innings pitched. Rockford reliever Tanner Propst took the loss, falling to 0-2.
The Kalamazoo Growlers conclude the two-game series versus Rockford tomorrow evening at Rivets Stadium. First pitch is slated for a 6:35 p.m. CT start.
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