GRIZZLIES SALVAGE SERIES WITH 9-3 WIN

SAUGET, Ill. — Brent Sakurai homered for the third time in two games and the Gateway Grizzlies scored nine unanswered runs to climb out of an early hole and beat the Evansville Otters 9-3 Thursday night at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.

Sakurai, who homered twice yesterday, hit a two-run shot to right-center field in the third inning to open the Grizzlies' (6-6) scoring. He had not homered for 80 games before the second game of the Grizzlies' doubleheader Wednesday.

Evansville (7-5) took a 3-0 lead in the middle of the third inning before Sakurai homered to begin a run of nine unanswered runs for the Grizzlies.

Rafael Valera hit his first Grizzlies home run: a two-run shot down the right-field line in the fifth inning.

Chris Carden (2-0) tossed 5 2/3 innings and allowed only two earned runs while striking out eight for the victory. Patrick Boyle and Dakota Smith each tossed perfect innings with two strikeouts out of the bullpen.

Gateway salvaged one win out of three games against Evansville and will open a three-game series in Washington, Pa., Friday at 6:05 p.m. CDT.

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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.