FOR RELEASE: JUNE 20, 2009

GRIZZLIES SWEEP ROCKFORD

SAUGET, IL-The Gateway Grizzlies completed the three-game sweep Friday night with an 8-3 win over the Rockford RiverHawks in front of 5,104 at GCS Ballpark. It is the first time this season the Grizzlies have won three in a row.

The Grizzlies (11-16) used a pair of solo home runs in the first inning to go up 2-0. Brandon Johnson led off the inning with a home run, his first of the year, to right. Stephen Holdren followed two batters later to make it 2-0. Brad Thoma made it 3-0 with a two-out RBI triple in the second inning. One inning later the Grizzlies used the long ball again to extend the lead. After Jareck West walked to lead off the inning, Holdren hit his second homer run of the night, and team-leading ninth of the year to make it 5-0. Charlie Lisk followed with his eighth home run of the year to make it 6-0. It was the sixth time this season the Grizzlies have hit back-to-back home runs, and the third time Holdren and Lisk have done it in order. Holdren drove in his fourth run of the night in the fourth to make it 7-0. Johnson added his second RBI of the night in the fifth when he walked with the bases loaded to make it 8-0.

Holdren was 3-4 with four RBIs. He has now scored a league-high 34 runs. Lisk was 2-4 with the homer and RBI. He leads the league with 32 RBIs. Thoma was 2-4 with the RBI. Joseph Scaperotta finished with a pair of hits in the win. He was 2-5.

Rockford (11-17) scored all three runs in the seventh off Grizzlies’ starter Joel Boeschen. Boeschen went 6.1 innings for his first win of the year. He allowed the three runs on seven hits. He stuck out four and is now 1-2.

The Grizzlies travel to Marion, IL to begin a three-game series with Southern Illinois Sunday. First pitch against the Miners is set for 5:05 pm.

Joe Pott

Broadcaster

Gateway Grizzlies Frontier League Baseball