GRIZZLIES LOSE IN 14 INNINGS
SAUGET, Ill. — With the Gateway Grizzlies down to their final out in the ninth inning Thursday night, Trae Santos served an opposite-field line drive into left to score Cody Livesay and tie the game, 2-2, but the Grizzlies left the potential winning run on base twice in extra frames before losing to the Florence Freedom, 5-3, in 14 innings at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
Santos had a walk-off sacrifice fly Wednesday night to beat Florence, but the Grizzlies (34-48) found no further offense past a single run in the 11th inning Thursday.
Florence (41-40) scored twice in the top of the 14th inning to win.
Despite starting each half-inning with a runner at second base under the international tiebreaker rule, the Grizzlies went scoreless in the 12th, 13th and 14th frames.
Josh Glick (2-3) took the loss for the Grizzlies.
Mitch Piatnik had two hits; Cody Livesay had three singles, all of which came in the ninth inning or later. Livesay scored the tying run in the ninth and drove in the tying run in the 11th.
Mike Elwood threw 7 2/3 innings and allowed only two runs, but he did not factor in the decision. Elwood struck out six and walked two; both runs he allowed came in the first inning.
Kevin Simmons and Grant Black hurled two scoreless innings apiece out of the Grizzlies' bullpen. Chris Metrick tossed 1 1/3 shutout frames of his own and struck out three.
Gateway will not return home until Aug. 28. An eight-game road trip will start Friday with the opener of a three-game series against the Southern Illinois Miners at 7:05 p.m. in Marion.
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.