WOODCOCK, OWINGS HOMERS NOT ENOUGH IN LOSS
SAUGET, Ill. — Dustin Woodcock and Connor Owings both hit solo home runs — the first time in July two different Gateway Grizzlies have gone deep in the same game — but the blasts were not enough in a 4-2 Grizzlies loss Tuesday night to the Lake Erie Crushers at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
After the Crushers (33-25) scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning, the Grizzlies (24-35) answered in the home half on Owings' majestic drive over the right-field fence.
Lake Erie added single tallies in the second, third, and fifth innings before Woodcock led off the seventh with a solo shot of his own.
After they hit 19 home runs in 19 May games, the Grizzlies have only 16 homers in 40 games in June and July. Woodcock has four of the Grizzlies' eight round-trippers this month.
Jordan Barrett (2-5) allowed four runs (three earned) over 4 1/3 innings and took the loss.
Thomas Nicoll dazzled out of the bullpen. He entered with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning and proceeded to strike out back-to-back Crushers and escape the frame without further damage. Nicoll tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out seven. He allowed only one hit and walked one.
Grant Black needed only nine pitches (eight strikes) for a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning.
Gateway put runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the ninth after singles from Luke Lowery and Luis Román, but Anthony Ray bounced into a double play to end the game.
Gateway and Lake Erie will continue their three-game series Wednesday with another 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
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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 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 10 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.