GRIZZLIES DROP FOURTH STRAIGHT

FLORENCE, Ky. — The Gateway Grizzlies fell behind in the middle innings and never led in a 5-2 loss Saturday night to the Florence Freedom at UC Health Stadium.

Gateway (36-53) lost its fourth straight game and has allowed multiple home runs in all four contests on its skid; the Grizzlies have conceded 11 long balls in their last four games and 97 round-trippers over 89 games in 2018.

Florence (46-43) won its third straight.

Trailing 2-1 in the seventh inning, the Grizzlies loaded the bases with nobody out before the Freedom went to their bullpen and Johnathan Tripp proceeded to strike out Jhonniel Alvarez, Chace Sarchet and Mitch Piatnik in order and prevent the Grizzlies from scoring. Gateway later brought the potential tying run to the plate in the ninth inning, but Piatnik grounded out to third base to end the game and strand runners at second and third.

Taso Stathopoulos (2-6) earned a second straight quality start and his third in his last four outings, but he took the hard-luck loss. Stathopoulos allowed two runs (both earned) over six innings and fanned four.

Shane Mardirosian, Paul Russo and Cody Livesay had two hits apiece for the Grizzlies.

Gateway will play its final road game of the season Sunday in the finale of a three-game series against Florence and eight-game road trip at 1:35 p.m. CDT.

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.