NORMAL, Ill. — The Gateway Grizzlies allowed two first-inning runs and never led in a 9-5 loss Sunday night to the Normal CornBelters at The Corn Crib.
Sunday marked the sixth straight game that the Grizzlies have allowed at least one run in the first inning.
Gateway (28-40) lost its third straight and was swept for the third time this season.
Normal (33-30) won its fifth in a row to maintain sole possession of first place in the West Division. The CornBelters’ first three runs all scored on solo home runs: Derrick Loveless and Andrew Godbold hit back-to-back solo shots with two outs in the first inning; Chris Iriart followed with one of his own to lead off the second.
Iriart’s round-tripper was his 18th of the season, which ranks second in the Frontier League. Eight of his 18 homers have come in his eight games played against the Grizzlies. He has hit multiple home runs in each series between the CornBelters and the Grizzlies in 2018.
In nine total games between the two teams, Normal has 17 first-inning runs.
Trae Santos, Blake Brown and Cody Livesay all posted two-hit games for the Grizzlies. Santos drove in three runs; Brown drove in two.
Nelson Martz (0-1) took the loss in his first professional start. He allowed four runs (all earned) in 2 2/3 innings.
Gateway is off Monday before opening a three-game series Tuesday night in Avon, Ohio, against the Lake Erie Crushers.
