FOR RELEASE: JUNE 30, 2009

SCAPEROTTA SETS RECORD; GRIZZLIES FALL

LOVES PARK, IL-Joseph Scaperotta singled in the seventh inning Tuesday night, giving him a franchise record 19-game hit streak, but the Gateway Grizzlies fell to the Rockford RiverHawks 5-4 in the first of a three-game series at Road Range Stadium.

Scaperotta surpassed former Grizzlies infielder Ryan Saltzgaber, who hit safely in 18 games in 2007.

Scaperotta’s hit was the only one of his night. He was 1-3. It came as part of a four run, five hit inning for the Grizzlies (13-23). Trailing 5-0 going into the frame, Alex Kerins led off the inning with his second double of the night. Stephen Holdren followed with a mammoth two-run home run, his 12^thof the year, to make it 5-2. Charlie Lisk followed with his 12^th home run of the year to cut the Rockford lead to 5-3. It was the eighth time the Grizzlies have hit back-to-back home runs, and the fourth time this year Holdren and Lisk have gone back-to-back in order.

Scaperotta’s hit followed Lisk’s home run. Jonathan Quigley doubled to the gap in left-center to score Scaperotta from first. Quigley was thrown out, trying to stretch the hit to a triple, to end the inning.

Tom Vesely (0-2) suffered the loss for the Grizzlies, allowing all five runs in five innings of work. Starting for the first time as a pro, Vesely struck out two and walked four. Chad Epperson and Adam Revelette combined for three-innings of scoreless relief.

Joe Pott

Broadcaster

Gateway Grizzlies Frontier League Baseball