Patient Grizzlies Beat Normal in Ten
Published on May 8, 2017 under Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
SAUGET, Ill. - The Gateway Grizzlies (2-2 preseason) took advantage of a pair of Normal Cornbelters errors with two unearned runs en route to a 10-inning, 3-2 victory in their preseason finale Monday afternoon at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
The Grizzlies were patient offensively, picking up five walks to supplement their five hits. Left fielder Cody Livesay reached base three times, scored a run, and added a sacrifice bunt. Shortstop Garrett Mattlage tallied two singles, a walk, a run, and the game-winning RBI.
On the mound, seven Grizzlies hurlers combined to throw the 10 innings. Adam Eggnatz started the game, striking out two over three scoreless innings. Javier Reynoso, Kaleb Earls, Chris Dula, and Kevin Jefferis all tossed scoreless frames out of the bullpen. Jefferis picked up the win for Gateway.
Grizzlies manager Phil Warren credited his pitchers with executing their gameplans, especially keeping the ball out of the air.
"Groundouts can't leave the park," Warren said. "Our pitchers are getting ground balls, pounding the zone, getting ahead...in the long run, that's going to help us win games."
After a couple of early errors, the Gateway defense finished the game well, including a sparkling 6-4-3 double play from Mattlage to Evan Rogers to Craig Massoni that got the Grizzlies out of a jam in the eighth inning.
Normal starter Charlie Gillies continued to trouble the Grizzlies, throwing four shutout innings with three strikeouts. Gillies threw a one-hitter against Gateway last July in a complete game win over Eggnatz.
Warren gave his players quite a bit of freedom in the preseason, trying to get a feel for his roster.
"I want to see these guys get live ABs, get their timing down...I'm just learning them and I want to see what they're all about and what they're thinking at the plate," Warren said.
The Grizzlies open their regular season schedule on Friday night against the Florence Freedom. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Fans who can't make it to the game can tune in on the Grizzlies Media Network.
Frontier League Stories from May 8, 2017
- Education Day Game against Miners Sold Out - Evansville Otters
- Patient Grizzlies Beat Normal in Ten - Gateway Grizzlies
- Weekly Sports League & Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
