Grizzlies third baseman D.J. Stewart makes a defensive play during Thursday’s win over the Windy City ThunderBolts. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| Final – Aug. 24, 2023 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windy City ThunderBolts | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Gateway Grizzlies | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | X | 10 | 14 | 0 |
Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer
SAUGET, IL — On a night when they brought back members of the 2003 Frontier League championship team — the only one in franchise history — the Gateway Grizzlies looked like a club that could win its second title, when it blasted the visiting Windy City ThunderBolts, 10-3, in a game at Grizzlies Ballpark.
Five Gateway batters had at least two hits, led by sluggers Kyle Gaedele and D.J. Stewart, who both launched home runs, as the Grizzlies banged out 14 hits on their way to their 53rd win of the season.
The victory, along with a loss earlier in the night by the Schaumburg Boomers, allowed Gateway to increase its lead in the Frontier League West Division to 3.0 games.
The Grizzlies have already clinched a spot in the coming Frontier League playoffs, but with just 10 games left in the regular season, the club is inching its way closer to winning the division title as well.
On Thursday, Gateway pounced on Windy City right away, as Jairus Richards led off with a single, went to second base on a ground ball, and scored on an RBI single by Cole Brannen for a 1-0 lead. Clint Freeman then announced his return to the lineup with a bang, hitting an RBI double down the left field line that scored Brannen from first base and made the score 2-0.
The Grizzlies would continue to score against Reese in the next couple innings, with Eric Rivera driving in one run in the second with a clutch, two-out double for a 3-0 Gateway lead.
After Windy City got a run back in the top of the third, Stewart got an RBI single for a 4-1 advantage in the bottom half, and was followed two batters later by Willie Estrada, who brought in two more runs with a two-out single, giving the home team a 6-1 cushion.
Rookie starter Parker Johnson (2-3) took the early run support and ran with it, allowing just one run on three hits in the first five innings on the mound with eight strikeouts in that span.
After he surrendered two runs in the top of the sixth, putting Windy City within 6-3, Gateway struck with two outs in the bottom of the frame to pull away, with Gaedele mashing a three-run home run to left field and Stewart following with his third home run of the series, a solo shot to left-center field that made the score 10-3.
Every single player in the Grizzlies lineup had at least one hit as part of a 14-hit attack offensively, while six players finished with at least one RBI, and seven scored at least one run. Johnson earned his second-straight win with a quality start of six innings pitched, two earned runs allowed on five hits, one walk, and nine strikeouts.
The Grizzlies will look to ride their momentum into the weekend as they travel up to Schaumburg for their final road series of the season. First pitch of the crucial three-game head-to-head series is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Wintrust Field.
Gateway ace right-hander Collin Sullivan (10-4), who is tied for the league lead in wins and leads the league in strikeouts, will make the start in game one against Schaumburg rookie lefthander Antonio Frias (3-1).