Grizzlies Clinch Series At Windy City

The Gateway Grizzlies posted 13 runs on 13 hits offensively to out-slug the Windy City ThunderBolts in a back-and-forth affair by a final score of 13-9 at Ozinga Field on Wednesday night, clinching the road series by winning the first two games.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the first, a popup was dropped in front of home plate for an error off the bat of Jake Boone, scoring two runs and putting Windy City in front 2-0. It was just the start of what was to come in the contest, as Gateway scored three runs in the next half-inning thanks to a two-out, two-run single by Jose Rosario with the bases loaded, with an error on Boone at third base on the same play scoring an additional run and making it 3-2 Grizzlies.

Windy City then scored three more runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead once again, going in front on a two-run triple by Jairus Richards at 5-3. The Grizzlies would respond again, tying the game at 5-5 in the top of the third on a Clint Freeman RBI double and a wild pitch by ThunderBolts starter Sebastian Selway (1-2).

Gateway then kept up the offensive onslaught, using an error after a double by Rosario to take the lead at 6-5 in the top of the fourth, followed by a sacrifice fly by Andrew Penner to make it 7-5. Gateway would not lose that lead the rest of the way, as Lukas Veinbergs (1-0) permitted one run back in the bottom of the fourth, but kept the Grizzlies in front.

Gateway would then add to their lead in the fifth thanks to an RBI single by Freeman, a sac fly by Rosario, and another wild pitch. They would also add more runs in the sixth on a two-run home run by Trevor Achenbach, his league-leading 14^th of the season, to take a 12-6 lead. The teams traded runs down the stretch, including when the ThunderBolts used four walks in the ninth to get within 13-9. John Murphy then nailed down his second save of the season, ending the game with a strikeout as the Grizzlies moved above the .500 mark on the season for the first time since June 11.

Gateway pounded out 13 hits on offense, as all nine position players recorded at least one. Rosario's three-RBI night at the plate led the club, while Achenbach and Freeman also drove in multiple runs apiece. On the mound, Veinbergs recorded the first win of his pro career, pitching four strong innings as Gateway moved into third place in the West Division standings.

The Grizzlies will go for the three-game sweep on Thursday, June 29, at 7:05 p.m., with Brendan Feldmann pitching for Gateway against Windy City southpaw Miguel Ausua at Ozinga Field.

The Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball team, located a mere 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis in Sauget, Illinois. The Grizzlies offer baseball fans affordable, family fun at GCSCredit Union Ballpark with a great view of the St. Louis skyline. They have also won two Frontier League Organization of the Year Awards, three West Division titles, and the 2003 Frontier League Championship. For tickets or general information, please visit gatewaygrizzlies.com or call (618) 337-3000.

The Frontier League debuted in 1993, and is the largest of the Major League Baseball Partner Leagues, featuring teams stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, and from the Ohio River to the St. Lawrence Seaway. More information and the complete 2022 schedule can be found at frontierleague.com.

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