Murphy's homer sinks Grizzlies in Game 1
August 15, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
KALAMAZOO, MI-Brendan Murphy hit a walk-off three-run homer Friday night as the Kalamazoo Kings came back to defeat the Gateway Grizzlies 10-8 at Homer Stryker Field in game one of a three-game series.
With the Grizzlies leading 8-7 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Tim Brown led off the inning with a single to center against reliever Joel Boeschen. Josh Short walked to bring up left-handed hitting Destan Makonnen. Makonnen battled, fouling three pitches hard down the right-field line, before chasing a fastball to strike out for the first out. Eric Ridener relieved Boeschen to face right-handed hitting Murphy. Murphy saw just a single pitch from Ridener, hammering out to straight-away center, giving the Kings' their second consecutive walk-off win and their ninth of the year.
Boeschen (1-6) suffered the loss for the Grizzlies. He struck out three in 1.1 innings of relief.
The Grizzlies (31-44) took the lead in the seventh inning against Kings' reliever Nolan Chestnut. Chestnut walked four in the inning to force in Joe Agreste, making it 7-6 Kings. Scott Reid came out of the pen to face Danny Morrow with the bases loaded. Morrow lined a double into the left field corner to put the Grizzlies on top 8-7. Morrow finished 1-4 with the pair of RBIs.
Kalamazoo (48-28) got out in front quickly Friday night, scoring four runs in the first inning against Grizzlies starter Paige Dumont. The Grizzlies scored a run in the second and two in the third to get within a run, before the Kings pushed three more across against Dumont in the third to lead 7-3.
The Grizzlies made it 7-5 after six innings. Jareck West scored thanks to an error and Alex Kerins singled to drive in a run to get the Grizzlies within two.
Dumont, Collin Brennan and Boeschen combined to shutout the Kings for five innings until the ninth.
Joe Agreste and Brandon Johnson each had two hits for the Grizzlies in the loss. Agreste drove in a run with a triple in the third inning. Johnson added a pair of RBIs. Charlie Lisk had an RBI on a groundout. Lisk also threw out three would-be Kings' base stealers Friday night.
The Kings and Grizzlies meet for game two of the series Saturday night in Kalamazoo. Game time is 6:05 pm central time.
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