GRIZZLIES DOMINATE, MAGIC NUMBER DOWN TO TWO
Avon, OH (August 20, 2023) – The Gateway Grizzlies scored six times in the top of the third inning with two outs at Mercy Health Stadium on Sunday afternoon, riding the big inning to a 10-2 victory over the Lake Erie Crushers to clinch the weekend series in the rubber game. The win also lowered their magic number to clinch a playoff spot in 2023 down to two, and restored a 2.0 games lead atop the West Division standings with Schaumburg's loss at Windy City.
With Cole Barr on first base and two outs in the top of the third, former Grizzlie Matt Mulhearn (5-6) committed a throwing error on a pickoff attempt to first base, and with Barr at second, Eric Rivera came up clutch with an RBI single to drive in the game's first run. But Gateway was far from done- after Cole Brannen walked and Mark Vierling loaded the bases on an infield hit, Andrew Penner laced a two-run single into the outfield to make it 3-0.
Kyle Gaedele then followed with a double off the center field wall to make it 5-0, and D.J. Stewart doubled on the very next pitch by Mulhearn to cap the scoring in the frame. Joey Gonzalez (10-7) would give two back on a Josh Rego double in the fourth inning, but the Grizzlies would respond right away in the fifth on a Penner RBI triple and Stewart sacrifice fly, taking a six-run lead once again at 8-2.
Gateway would also add two more runs in the seventh on a Gaedele two-run home run, his eighth of the season in just 24 games to give him four RBIs on the day, to finish off the scoring in the contest. Penner also finished with three RBIs in the game and three runs scored, while Stewart drove in a pair of runs as well. The Grizzlies' bullpen also finished off a strong road trip with four scoreless innings, securing Gateway the series victory.
With a magic number of two to clinch their first playoff spot in the Frontier League since 2012, the Grizzlies return home for 10 of their final 13 regular season games, beginning on Tuesday, August 22, against the Windy City ThunderBolts. First pitch at Grizzlies Ballpark is set for 6:45 p.m. CT.
CRESTWOOD, IL – The ThunderBolts captured victory from the Schaumburg Boomers in walk-off fashion in the finale of a three-game series Sunday afternoon at Ozinga Field.
The bats from both sides got hot early as Schaumburg (49-34) started off the scoring in the first inning on an RBI double from Chase Dawson. The Bolts (35-48) responded in the bottom of the frame and took the lead on a Peyton Isaacson two-run homer, his third of the season.
The Boomers immediately took the lead back in the second as they put up a three spot, highlighted by a Travis Holt two-run single. Windy City responded with a three-run inning in the bottom of the second. A Bren Spillane two-run double and a Peyton Isaacson RBI single put the Bolts out in front once again, 5-4. All three Bolts runs in the second came with two outs.
After many zeros were thrown on the scoreboard, Schaumburg tied the game at five in the seventh on a Gaige Howard RBI double.
In the ninth, Bolts reliever Derrick Edington (4-1) was able to get out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam to keep the game knotted at five. Dan Robinson played hero in the bottom of the ninth, with a walk-off single to score Isaacson, who finished the contest 4-for-4, reaching in all five plate appearances.
Javier Reynoso got the start for Windy City and threw 6.2 innings, allowing five runs off seven hits. Jackson Hickert opposed him for Schaumburg and tossed 3.1 innings, allowing the exact same amount of hits and runs as Reynoso.
Former ThunderBolt Daiveyon Whittle (2-5) collected the loss for the Boomers after he was unable to record an out in the ninth.
The Bolts will hit the road for a three-game series against the Gateway Grizzlies this upcoming Tuesday-Thursday. Taylor Sugg (4-7, 5.02) will get the ball for Windy City in the series opener, with the first pitch set for 6:45 CDT.
Washington, PA. – Ethan Skender hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth inning and the Evansville Otters stunned the Washington Wild Things in a 6-5 win Sunday evening at Wild Things Park. Trailing 5-4 entering the ninth inning, Jomar Reyes led off reaching on an error by the Wild Things' shortstop. Skender followed by blasting a two-run homer over the left field wall to give the Otters the lead. Jake Polancic sent the Wild Things down in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win. Evansville wins their second straight road series and finishes 4-2 on the six-game road swing. The Otters took an early lead on a Noah Myers' solo home run in the third inning - his third home run of the week. Evansville added to the lead in the sixth inning. Myers led off with a walk and stole both second and third base. Jeffrey Baez knocked him home with a single. Jomar Reyes then later followed with an RBI hit to make it 4-0 Otters. Washington scored all five of their runs in the sixth inning. Two singles and a double started the inning for the Wild Things and led to their first two runs. A two-out bases clearing double gave Washington a 5-4 lead. Tim Holdgrafer started for the Otters and did not factor into the decision. He allowed just one hit and three total baserunners through his first five innings of work before exiting during the sixth frame. Kevin Davis pitched a scoreless eighth for the Otters and earned his second win of the season. Polancic's save is his 15th of the year, tied for second most in the Frontier League. Skedner hit a go-ahead home run for the second straight day while the Otters hit a long ball in every game of the road trip. Myers scored twice, raising his single count to 76 total runs scored. He is closing in on Josh Allen's 83 runs scored in 2017 - the most in an Evansville single season. The Otters lowered their magic number to seven games to make the Frontier League playoffs with 13 games to play on the season. Evansville returns to Bosse Field for their final six home games of the season starting on Tuesday with a series against the Joliet Slammers. A 6:35 PM CT Tuesday first pitch is the final Fifth Third Bank Family Night of the season.
Quebec - The New York Boulders split their doubleheader and four-game series with the first-place Quebec Capitales on Sunday, dropping the first game 3-1 before earning a convincing 9-1 win in the evening portion of the twin bill. The split helps keep New York in striking distance for the Frontier League playoffs.
Boulders second baseman and hitting coach Tucker Nathans put on an impressive performance at the plate, going a combined 5 for 6 with five RBI over the two seven-inning games. The left-handed slugger is now batting .412 (28 for 68) over his last 18 games, dating back to August 2, and now sits in fifth place among league leaders in batting average at .336.
New York fell into an early three-run hole within the first two innings of Game 1 and could not dig out of the deficit. The Boulders got one run back on an RBI single by Nathans, but it would also mark the end of the team's offensive production for the game.
Weston Lombard struck out four batters over four innings of scoreless relief for New York. Starting pitcher Aaron Dona took the loss. Ruben Ramirez earned the win for Quebec, striking out six batters and allowing just one earned run over 6 1/3 innings.
The Boulders put it all together in the second game, however. New York compiled nine runs on 10 hits, while also holding Quebec to just one run on four hits. Nathans headlined New York on offense with his 4-for-4, four-RBI performance.
Jimmy Costin and Matt McDermott each recorded multiple hits for the Boulders. Costin, who usually spends his time behind the plate, managed to cross it three times running the bases in the win. David Vinsky drove in two runs and Patrick Kivlehan added a solo home run for New York. Austin Dennis also drove in a run for the Boulders.
New York starter Andy Hammond earned his sixth win of the season after allowing just one run in the complete-game effort.
The Boulders (47-36) currently sit 3.5 games behind Tri-City (51-33) for the final playoff spot in the East Division. New York returns home to Clover Stadium on Tuesday for the start of a crucial seven-game homestand against last-place Empire State (16-68) and New Jersey (53-30), which moved into sole possession of first place with its win and Quebec (53-31) loss Sunday.
TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValleyCats (51-33) fired on all cylinders in a dominant 9-3 win over the Sussex County Miners (46-37) on Sunday. The ValleyCats improved to 15-0 in series at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium this year.
The two rival clubs held each other scoreless through the first three and a half innings before Tri-City opened the floodgates in the fourth. Juan Kelly began the inning with a solo homer off Mike Reagan. It was his sixth long ball of the season. Lamar Briggs singled, and Pavin Parks moved him to third with a single of his own. Robbie Merced laid down a bunt on a safety squeeze play, and reached first with an RBI single. Merced and Parks executed a double steal, and advanced to second and third, respectively, before Jaxon Hallmark lifted a sac fly. Aaron Altherr walked, and Jakob Goldfarb launched a three-run blast. His 16th homer of the year gave the ValleyCats a 6-0 lead.
Sussex County clawed back with a pair of round-trippers in the sixth. Evan Giordano homered off Angelo Baez. Edwin Mateo had a single, and Oraj Anu drilled a two-run jack to cut the deficit to 6-3.
Tri-City flexed its muscles again in the seventh. Oscar Campos homered off Cole Davis. Kelly collected his third hit of the day. Briggs replaced Kelly at first base after reaching on a fielder's choice. Afterward, Parks launched a two-run tater to provide the ValleyCats with a 9-3 advantage.
Baez (5-7) earned the win. He hurled seven frames, yielding three runs on four hits, walking one, and striking out four. Greg Veliz and Parks followed suit, each tossing a scoreless inning, to seal the victory.
Reagan (3-2) received the loss. He pitched 3.2 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits, walking five, and striking out two.
Tri-City has a day off tomorrow before returning to "The Joe" on Tuesday, August 22 to begin a three-game series with the Québec Capitales. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM.
