647
The Grizzlies took a 3-0 lead into the eighth inning Friday night, but they saw it evaporate after Joliet (3-4) scored seven runs in the bottom half of the inning to win the game, 7-3.
Grizzlies RHP Tyler Thompson didn’t allow a run in his first seven innings on the mound, but he ran into trouble in the eighth. Thompson hit the first batter of the inning and Joliet’s Charlie White followed with an single. Slammers’ outfielder Nate Roberts laced a double to left field which scored Joliet’s first run.
With the Grizzlies (2-5) still leading 3-1, Thompson then walked the final batter he faced to load the bases with nobody out. Gateway RHP Brett Zawacki (0-1) came out of the bullpen and gave up a two-run double to Russell Moldenhauer, which tied the ballgame at 3-3. Joliet’s Mike Garza then hit an RBI single to put the Slammers ahead, 4-3.
Joliet tacked on three more runs before the frame was over. Slammers RHP Navery Moore finished the game by setting aside the Grizzlies in order in the ninth.
Gateway’s offense was the first to strike on Friday night. Blake Brown gave the Grizzlies an early 1-0 lead when he drilled a single to left-field in the third inning, which allowed Grant Nelson to score from second base. Brown finished with two hits.
Joliet starting pitcher Brett DeVall, who was making his first appearance in professional baseball since 2010, lasted nearly five innings and allowed only one run. He was replaced by RHP John Maloney, who gave up two runs to Gateway in the sixth inning when Joliet infielder Adrian English made a wild throw to first base with two runners on. The error allowed Josh Adams and Ben Waldrip to score.
After the sixth inning, the Slammers’ bullpen kept Joliet in the game. RHP Jacob Butler and RHP Sam Moore (1-0) combined to throw 2.1 scoreless innings, which kept the Grizzlies’ lead at 3-0 heading into the eighth inning.
Grizzlies’ outfielder Madison Beaird went 2-4, while three other Gateway batters chipped in with one hit a piece.
The Grizzlies and Slammers play the second game of a three-game series tomorrow night. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m.
