GRIZZLIES DROP SERIES IN EVANSVILLE
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Artemis Kadkhodaian muscled an opposite-field line drive to right field that scored two runs and tied the game with two outs in the sixth inning, but the Evansville Otters came back with the game's final six runs to hand the Gateway Grizzlies their second straight loss Thursday night at Bosse Field.
Evansville (12-11) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on three hits and two walks. Grizzlies pitchers walked seven Otters in total.
Gateway (11-13) scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game. Joel McKeithan notched an RBI single — his second of the game — before Kadkhodaian's two-run single evened the ballgame.
Evansville answered right back with three in the home half of the sixth and three more in the eighth. The Otters posted 17 hits.
Grizzlies starter Dakota Smith went 4 1/3 innings and allowed five runs (all earned). He did not factor in the decision. Patrick Boyle and Grant Black relieved Smith, and they both allowed three runs (all earned).
Kadkhodaian added three walks to his 1-for-2 performance. Trae Santos walked twice and picked up another RBI single.
Gateway will return home to GCS Credit Union Ballpark for a seven-game homestand starting Friday night against the Florence Freedom.
In other Grizzlies news, former Gateway righthander Trevor Richards started Thursday afternoon for the Miami Marlins against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Gateway manager Phil Warren spoke about watching Richards, a St. Louis area native, return to the big leagues and pitch only a few miles from where he'd started his professional career in 2015 with the Grizzlies.
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 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.