GRIZZLIES SHUT OUT JOLIET, WIN SERIES
SAUGET, Ill. — Mike Elwood hurled seven scoreless innings and struck out eight to lead the Gateway Grizzlies to a 2-0 win Sunday night over the Joliet Slammers at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
Gateway (33-41) clinched back-to-back series wins for the first time this season, and won five of six games this week.
Kevin Simmons earned a hold with a scoreless eighth inning. Grant Black allowed Joliet (41-31) to put the potential tying run on first base with one out in the ninth, but induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play for his fourth save.
Elwood (6-6) struck out eight and walked only two over seven frames. Over his last three starts, Elwood has allowed only three runs in 21 innings — seven in each start — to lower his season ERA to 3.47.
Grizzlies starting pitchers have thrown six straight quality starts, bookended by Elwood. Over the Grizzlies' last six games, Gateway starters have allowed only seven runs over 41 1/3 innings — a 1.52 ERA. Gateway is 22-7 (.759) this season when its starting pitcher delivers a quality start, and 11-34 (.244) when he does not.
Jeff Cardenas scored the Grizzlies' first run (an unearned tally in the second on a Slammers throwing error) in the second inning and drove in the second run with a two-out RBI double in the third.
Audie Afenir had the Grizzlies' only multi-hit game in his Gateway debut. Cardenas, Blake Brown, Cody Livesay and Justin Ellison all doubled.
After taking Monday off, the Grizzlies will face the Normal CornBelters to open a three-game series Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.
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.