WEST, GRIZZLIES WIN TIGHT OPENER IN WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON, Pa. — Terry McClure drove in two with a one-out single in the seventh inning to propel the Gateway Grizzlies (14-36) to a 3-2, series-opening victory over the Washington Wild Things (28-20).
Gateway scored first on a Blake Brown sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning, Brown's 40th RBI of the season.
Washington evened the game in the third before both teams went scoreless in the middle frames.
Although the Wild Things picked up a run in the eighth, Gateway's pitching staff made McClure's single stand up for the Grizzlies' second straight win.
Ja'Vaun West (2-5) worked six innings, allowing only one run on five hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.
Jackson Sigman, Mike Elwood and Kaleb Earls finished the game for Gateway. Combined, the four pitchers struck out eight batters without a walk.
Earls hurled a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to pick up his fifth save of the year in his fifth opportunity.
Matt Hearn added two hits, two walks and two runs to extend his team-leading hitting streak to 11 games. He's hit in 22 of his last 24 contests going back to June 10.
Gateway will try to clinch the series tomorrow evening in game two in Washington. Coverage starts at 5:50 p.m. CT on the Grizzlies Media Network.
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ABOUT THE GATEWAY GRIZZLIES: The Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball team, located a mere 100-yards from I-255 (10 minutes from downtown St. Louis). The Grizzlies offer baseball fans entertainment, the likes of which are difficult to find - affordable, family, fun in the comfortable GCS Credit Union Ballpark with a great view of the St. Louis skyline. For tickets or general information please visit gatewaygrizzlies.com or call 618.337.3000.
ABOUT THE FRONTIER LEAGUE: The Frontier League is celebrating its 25th season as a professional, independent baseball organization. Since its inception, the Frontier League has provided millions of fans to a fun and exciting baseball experience within the American Midwest. Consisting of 12 teams in two divisions and 96 game schedules, the league is recognized for the amount of talented athletes that are picked up by various MLB teams every year.