FOR RELEASE: JULY 11, 2009

SLIDERS WALK-OFF WITH WIN OVER GRIZZLIES

AVON, OH-Robbie Knapp capped a wild ninth inning with a two-out, walk-off grand slam Saturday night as the Midwest Sliders defeated the Gateway Grizzlies 10-8 at Oestrike Stadium in game two of a three-game series.

Knapp’s home run came against Scott Kelly, who followed Jamie Arneson into the game. Arneson allowed a double and three walks, leaving with the bases loaded a run in, and nobody out. Kelly got a double play ball from Roberto Mena that forced a runner out at home. He then intentionally passed left-handed hitting Clay McCord to get to right-handed hitting Knapp. Kelly drops to 0-1 with the loss.

The Grizzlies (18-28) scored five times in the top of the ninth inning to come back from a 5-3 deficit. Alex Kerins got the Grizzlies’ rally started with a one-out single. Brandon Peters drove him in with a double to right center to cut the Sliders’ lead to 5-4. Brandon Johnson followed with a two-run home run to right to make it 6-5 Grizzlies. Stephen Holdren then walked and Charlie Lisk followed with an RBI triple to make it 7-5. Chad Rothford drove in Lisk with a fielder’s choice to put the Grizzlies up 8-5.

The Grizzlies took a 2-0 lead after the top of the first on a home run from Lisk. The Sliders (22-23) scored four times in the bottom of the first to take a 4-2 lead.

Lisk finished the night 2-5 with the homer, triple and three RBIs. He now leads the Frontier League in home runs with 16 and RBIs with 52. Peters was 3-4 with an RBI. Rothford was 2-5 with a homer and two RBIs.

The Grizzlies and Sliders will play the runner game of the three-game series Sunday afternoon in Ypsilanti. First pitch is 1:05 pm, central time.

Joe Pott

Broadcaster

Gateway Grizzlies Frontier League Baseball