Late-Inning Home Run Lifts Gateway over Florence
June 4, 2021 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
SAUGET, IL - After back-to-back singles to open up the bottom of the eighth inning, Grizzlies' outfielder Axel Johnson cracked a three-run home run to right field to break a 2-2 tie, giving Gateway a 5-2 victory over the Florence Y'alls Friday night.
After a 7-1 start, Florence has now lost two games in a row. Gateway, meanwhile, has won two consecutive games dating back to their previous series versus Windy City.
Facing Florence reliever Alex Wagner, Abdiel Diaz dumped a single down the left field line. Dustin Woodcock immediately followed with a single of his own in front of centerfielder Mitch Piatnik. Wagner would settle down to strikeout Chase Vallot before allowing the three-run bomb to Johnson.
It was Florence that started the scoring in the third inning. Taylor Bryant walked to start the frame and came around to score on a Piatnik single. The Y'alls took a 2-0 lead on a Luis Pinto RBI-single in the fifth inning.
Gateway (4-4) had the answer in the bottom of the fifth. Connor Owings led off with a single and later scored on an RBI-triple for Justin Jones on a ball that bounced high off the artificial turf over Piatnik's head in center. Jones scored when the next batter, Jay Prather, hit a sacrifice fly to left field.
The loss spoils a great start from Christian Tripp. The Y'alls righty tossed six innings and struck out nine Grizzlies. He walked only one and allowed just five hits. Wagner punched out three in his two innings of work, and the home run accounts for the only three runs he has allowed this season.
Jordan Barrett got the start for Gateway and lasted five innings. The lefty walked three and allowed six hits. Only one of the two runs he allowed were earned. Relief pitcher Jack Jett struck out five across three frames in his first professional outing, keeping the game tied in the middle innings. Geoff Bramblett picked up his first save of the season with a clean ninth inning.
All but one Grizzlie recorded a hit, led by two from Diaz and Owings. Florence also only had one player not record a hit, led by a three-hit showing from Mitch Piatnik.
The Y'alls - playing in their first road series of the season - look to get back in the win column tomorrow, Saturday, June 5, in the second game of the series. Jonaiker Villalobos will take the mound for Florence with first pitch from GCS Credit Union Park scheduled for 6:45p CT/7:45p ET.
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