GRIZZLIES FALL TO EVEN SERIES
SAUGET, Ill. — The Gateway Grizzlies led 2-1 after five innings Saturday, but they lost the lead on a string of wild pitches in the sixth and seventh innings in a 5-3 loss to the Joliet Slammers at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
Gateway (26-37) was denied a three-game winning streak, which would have matched its longest this season, and lost after leading at the end of the fifth inning for only the fifth time this season.
The Grizzlies came from behind to win the series opener Friday and improved their record to 5-29 when trailing after the fifth inning, but lost Saturday to drop their record to 18-5 when leading after five frames.
Joliet (26-38) scored two runs in the sixth inning to tie the game and then take the lead, then added another in the seventh. All three of those runs scored on Grizzlies wild pitches.
After another Slammers insurance run in the top of the ninth inning, the Grizzlies battled back with three singles in the bottom of the ninth. Zak Taylor had an RBI single, but the Grizzlies stranded him at first base as the potential tying run to end the game.
Luke Lowery had two hits, two RBIs, and a hit by pitch.
Chris Carden (5-2) took a rare loss with three runs (all earned) allowed over 5 2/3 innings and seven strikeouts.
Gateway and Joliet will play a day-night doubleheader (12:05 p.m. and 6:05 p.m. CDT) Sunday to finish their four-game series. The first game will be free to the public and feature free ice cream for fans.
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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.