Grizzlies shortstop Abdiel Diaz snags a line drive during the team’s weekend series at Grizzlies Ballpark. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| Frontier League Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windy City ThunderBolts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Gateway Grizzlies | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
SAUGET, IL — The Gateway Grizzlies suffered its third straight series loss, when was defeated 3-2 on Sunday, which meant a 2-1 series loss to the Windy City ThunderBolts. Gateway won the series opener on Friday, but lost the next two games on Saturday and Sunday.
Struggling to come up with a clutch hit all week long, Gateway finally got one in the bottom of the second inning with two outs from Abdiel Diaz, who doubled off the base of the left field wall to score a pair of runs and make it 2-0.
That lead held until the top of the fourth, when Kaleb Hill surrendered a two-out, two-run, game-tying home run to Kingston Liniak. Those two tallies would be the only runs Hill would allow in his second pro start over six strong innings, striking out seven and keeping the game tied by retiring the final six batters he faced.
In relief of Hill, Alec Whaley then retired six batters in a row, and Lukas Veinbergs (0-3) retired the first two batters he faced in the top of the ninth inning to run a streak of ThunderBolts batters retired to 14 in a row.
But then things turned sour again late for Gateway- Brennen Dorighi and Liniak hit back-to-back singles, and Garrett Broussard hit a ground ball to first base that was booted by Jack-Thomas Wold for an error, scoring the runner from second base and stunningly putting the Grizzlies behind 3-2.
The Grizzlies were then retired in order in the bottom of the ninth inning, enduring their third consecutive series loss despite winning the series opener, and finishing a 2-4 home stand where each of their four losses were by two runs or fewer.
The Grizzlies now embark on yet another road trip to play another series against the Washington Wild Things in Pennsylvania, and will look to recover at Wild Things Park in the series opener on Tuesday, June 18, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Gateway’s road trip east will be a quick one though. The Grizzlies will be back in town this weekend, when they’ll host a three-game set against the Lake Erie Crushers.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Innings | Play | V – H |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Grizzlies 2nd | A. Diaz doubled, 2 RBI; T. Wargo scored; J. Alvarez scored. | 0 – 2 |
| Windy City ThunderBolts 4th | K. Liniak homered, 2 RBI; C. Kuzemka scored. | 2 – 2 |
| Windy City ThunderBolts 9th | G. Broussard reached first on an error by 1b; K. Liniak advanced to second; B. Dorighi scored, unearned. | 3 – 2 |
UPCOMING GATEWAY GRIZZLIES BASEBALL GAMES
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 18, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:05 pm | Away | Washington Wild Things | Wild Things Park / Washington, PA |
| June 19, 2024 (Wednesday) | 5:05 pm | Away | Washington Wild Things | Wild Things Park / Washington, PA |
| June 20, 2024 (Thursday) | 6:05 pm | Away | Washington Wild Things | Wild Things Park / Washington, PA |
| June 21, 2024 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Home | Lake Erie Crushers | Grizzlies Ballpark / Sauget, IL |
| June 22, 2024 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Home | Lake Erie Crushers | Grizzlies Ballpark / Sauget, IL |
| June 23, 2024 (Sunday) | 1:05 pm | Home | Lake Erie Crushers | Grizzlies Ballpark / Sauget, IL |
| June 25, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:30 pm | Home | Washington Wild Things | Grizzlies Ballpark / Sauget, IL |
| June 26, 2024 (Wednesday) | 10:45 am | Home | Washington Wild Things | Grizzlies Ballpark / Sauget, IL |
| June 27, 2024 (Thursday) | 6:30 pm | Home | Washington Wild Things | Grizzlies Ballpark / Sauget, IL |