AUTHOR: SportsReleases.com TITLE: GRIZZLIES DROP GAME ONE TO WILD THINGS DATE: 9/04/2007 08:45:00 PM ----- BODY:
FOR RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 4, 2007
 
GRIZZLIES DROP GAME ONE
 
The Washington Wild Things got a run in the top of the ninth inning to to break a 4-4 tie, and held on to defeat the Gateway Grizzlies 5-4 and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five Division Series Tuesday night at GCS Ballpark. 
 
With two runners on base, Grizzlies closer Eric Ridener induced a ground ball back to the mound off the bat of Jared Rine.  Ridener threw to second for the second out in the inning and before Grizzlies shortstop Ryan Saltzgaber could make the return throw, he was taken out on a hard slide by Chris Sidick.  Saltzgaber dropped the ball, allowing the go ahead run to score.  Saltzgaber would leave the game.  His status for the rest of the series is in question.
 
The Grizzlies had scored four unanswered runs to tie the game. 
 
Trailing 4-0 in the seventh, Jeff Vincent hit a ball into the right field lawn to make it 4-3.  Stephen Holdren drove in the tying run in the eighth inning with a sac fly to center. 
 
Vincent was 1-3 with the homer.  Holdren was 2-2 with a pair of doubles and the RBI.
 
Washington led 1-0 after an RBI hit by Rene Quintana in the fourth.  They went up 3-0 with a two-run homer in the fifth from Matt Sutton.  Ryan Bethel added an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
 
Neither starter figured into the decision.  The Grizzlies' Erik Dessau went seven innings allowing four runs on six hits.  Washington's Aaron Ledbetter went 6.2 innings allowing three runs on three hits.  He struck out nine.
 
Travis Risser (1-0) earned the win for the 'Things.  He went 1.1 innings in relief.  James Hertel (0-1) suffered the loss for the Grizzlies.  He tossed 1 inning in relief.
 
The Grizzlies and Wild Things will meet in game two of the best-of-five series Wednesday night at GCS Ballpark.  Game time is 7:05 p.m. 
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Joe Pott
Broadcaster/Corporate Sales Associate
Gateway Grizzlies Frontier League Baseball
2007 Frontier League West Division Champions
618-337-3000
www.gatewaygrizzlies.com
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