LATE GATEWAY COMEBACK FALLS SHORT IN LOSS

AVON, Ohio — The Gateway Grizzlies (7-20) scored first Sunday afternoon against the Lake Erie Crushers (12-15), but fell behind in the middle innings and couldn't finish a late comeback en route to a 7-4 loss at Sprenger Stadium.

Zach Lavy drove in Matt Hearn to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead in the first inning, marking the second straight game in which Gateway scored first. It was Lavy's 12th RBI of the season, placing him third on the ballclub.

Lake Erie rattled off seven unanswered runs, however, from the second inning through the sixth. The Crushers mounted only seven hits, but four were home runs.

Trailing 7-1 after seven innings, the Grizzlies knocked two runs off the deficit in the eighth on a Craig Massoni two-run single. Massoni has hit in four straight games and drove in five runs over the three-game series against Lake Erie.

Gateway added another run in the ninth when Chase Simmons picked up his third RBI in only four games this year. The Grizzlies had runners at first and third with nobody out and the potential tying run at the plate before a flyout and a double play ended the ballgame.

Will Anderson (0-5) took the loss for the Grizzlies, allowing seven runs (all earned) on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two.

Javier Reynoso threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Gateway returns home to GCS Credit Union Ballpark for a seven-game homestand this week, starting with a single game against the Windy City Thunderbolts. Monday's contest is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT. Fans can hear all the action on the Grizzlies Media Network.