The Gateway Grizzlies scored six runs third inning to cruise to a 10-2 win over Lake Erie on Sunday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| Final – Aug. 20, 2023 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Grizzlies | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 12 | 0 |
| Lake Erie Crushers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer
Avon, OH — The Gateway Grizzlies banged out 12 hits and scored 10 runs to defeat the host Lake Erie Crushers, 10-2, in the rubber game of a weekend series, Sunday afternoon at Mercy Health Stadium.
Gateway scored six times in the top of the third inning, all with two outs, then added two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh to cruise to a victory that allowed the club to lower its magic number to clinching a Frontier League playoff spot down to two.
The win also restored the Grizzlies lead atop the Frontier League West Division to 2.0 games, thanks to second-place Schaumburg’s loss later in the day to Windy City.
Grizzlie first baseman Kyle Gaedele had three hits, all of them extra-base knocks, including his eighth home run of the season, and four RBIs to lead the Gateway offense. Teammates Eric Rivera, Andrew Penner, and Mark Vierling each had two hits as well, with Penner adding three RBIs of his own.
Starting pitcher Joey Gonzalez (10-7) pitched five innings and allowed just two runs and three hits to get the win on the mound.
The Gateway bullpen finished off a strong road trip by holding the Crushers scoreless for the final four innings.
With a magic number of two to clinch their first playoff spot in the Frontier League since 2012, the Grizzlies return home for 10 of their final 13 regular season games, beginning on Tuesday, August 22, against the Windy City ThunderBolts. First pitch at Grizzlies Ballpark is set for 6:45 p.m.