FLORENCE WALK-OFF HOMER SINKS GRIZZLIES

FLORENCE, Ky. — Keivan Berges took the second pitch of the bottom of the ninth inning over the left-field fence for a solo home run, and the Gateway Grizzlies lost, 3-2, Sunday afternoon to the Florence Freedom at UC Health Stadium.

Gateway (36-54) lost its fifth straight game to finish its eight-game road trip at 2-6. The Grizzlies have suffered nine walk-off losses in 2018.

Alec Kisena tossed six innings of two-run ball — his third straight quality start and fourth in his last five outings. He struck out three and did not factor in the decision. Gateway is 25-11 when its pitcher throws a quality start this season, but the Grizzlies have lost their last two games despite quality starts from Taso Stathopoulos and Kisena.

After Kisena hurled four perfect innings to start his afternoon, the Freedom (47-43) scored two in the fifth inning on four hits.

Trae Santos launched a two-run, opposite-field homer in the eighth inning to tie the game — his 16th long ball of the season, which tied Blake Brown for the Grizzlies' team lead. Santos and Audie Afenir had the Grizzlies' two multi-hit games Sunday.

Grant Black (1-4) threw a scoreless eighth inning, but allowed a solo shot to Berges to start the ninth and end the game.

Gateway will return home Tuesday to begin a season-ending six-game homestand against the Evansville Otters and Southern Illinois Miners.

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.