Home Baseball Grizzlies Swept In Doubleheader To End Series

Grizzlies Swept In Doubleheader To End Series

by

The Gateway Grizzlies dropped both games of a doubleheader to the Southern Illinois Miners on Thursday night at GCS Ballpark by scores of 12-6 and 11-0.

The Miners (27-15) have now won seven straight games at GCS Ballpark. The Grizzlies (13-28) combined to leave 16 runners on base in the two defeats. Gateway tallied 16 hits in the first game of the doubleheader, but a pair of four-run innings by Southern Illinois put the game out of reach.

Aaron Gates homered to start the game as part of a three-run first inning. Steve Marino added an RBI single later on and Jon Minucci added an RBI groundout to make it 3-0 Miners after a half-inning of play.

The Grizzlies cut into the deficit in the next two innings thanks to Madison Beaird’s home run and an RBI single by Ryan Soares to make it 3-2. After each team scored a single run in the fifth inning, an error by Gateway proved costly in the sixth.

Jerrud Sabourin singled to lead-off the inning and advanced to second after Max Schonfeld (2-3) issued a walk to Steve Marino. The next batter popped up for an out, but Rolando Gomez mishandled a groundball in the next at-bat by Brenden Slattery, loading the bases for Brian Portelli. Portelli took advantage of the miscue by launching his first professional home run over the right field fence for a grand slam to give the Miners an 8-3 lead.

The grand slam proved to be the biggest hit of the game. Gateway would add two more on a home run by Ryan Soares and another in the seventh to make it 8-5, but it wouldn’t be enough. They left 12 runners on base in the game and were doomed by a four-run eighth inning for Southern Illinois.

Rick Teasley (5-2) picked up the win for the Miners after allowing four earned runs on 12 hits in six innings of work. Ryan Brockett S,1) picked up the save after recording the final seven outs for the Miners while holding Gateway to only two hits.

After the Grizzlies recorded 16 hits in the opening game of the twin bill, the offense fell silent in the second game. RHP Jarret Miller (2-1) quieted the Gateway offense in six scoreless innings of work. The right-hander allowed only three hits while striking out five batters.

Southern Illinois struck first with an RBI single by Frank Martinez in the first inning and the game would remain 1-0 until the fifth inning. That’s when things unraveled for Gateway in a six-run fifth inning.

The Miners sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning and tacked on the six runs on only four hits. Michael Earley and Frank Martinez both struck with RBI doubles before Sabourin delivered a three-run home run to cap things off. Southern Illinois led it 7-0 after five innings.

An RBI groundout by Sabourin in the following inning extended the Miner lead to 8-0 and Steve Marino added an RBI single to tack on one more. Portelli delivered the final nail in the coffin when he delivered yet another home run, his third of the day, moments later making it 11-0.

Donny Murray (0-1) took the loss in his professional debut. He allowed four runs on eight hits in his four innings of work. Grant Buckner and Ryan Soares carried Gateway offensively on Thursday, combining for nine hits and three RBI’s.

Gateway now welcomes the Frontier Greys to town for a short two-game series beginning Friday night. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. Vince Molesky (3-2, 5.18) will take the mound for the Grizzlies and Bobby Shore (3-3, 4.75) will pitch for the Greys. The game can be heard on the Grizzlies Radio Network, which airs on the 101 ESPN’s digital channels and 1400 AM KJFF. Sam Levitt and Kevin Schaefer will call the action.

+ posts

Related Articles