FOR RELEASE: AUGUST 7, 2009

GRIZZLIES TAKE OPENER, SNAP SKID

SAUGET, IL-The Gateway Grizzlies scored five runs on just four hits Friday night, but it was enough to defeat the Evansville Otters. The Grizzlies snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-4 win in front of 5,162 at GCS Ballpark.

Evansville (23-47) took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the third and fourth innings against Grizzlies starter Jamie Arneson. Arneson pitched six innings, allowing the two runs on five hits. He improves to 5-0 with the win.

The Grizzlies (28-41) answered with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Charlie Lisk was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Joseph Scaperotta followed with a double. Jareck West drove in Lisk with a fielder’s choice. Evansville tried to get Scaperotta at third, but was unsuccessful. Danny Morrow drove in Scaperotta with a single to right to tie the game 2-2. Scaperotta put the Grizzlies ahead in the sixth. He singled to start the inning, then stole second base. He was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by West. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Johnson that made it 3-2 Grizzlies.

Scaperotta finished 2-4 with a pair of runs scored.

Gateway added two unearned runs in the eighth inning, thanks to a pair of Evansville errors, and led 5-2. It turned out the Grizzlies would need the runs.

Eric Blackwell and Frank Meade each hit solo homers in the ninth for Evansville to draw the Otters within a run. It as close as they would get. Grizzlies reliever Chris Wiman struck out Josh Howard to end the game, and secure his first save in a Grizzlies uniform. It is Wiman’s seventh save of the year. Wiman was traded to the Grizzlies earlier in the month.

The Grizzlies and Otters will play the second game of the three-game series Saturday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm.

Joe Pott

Broadcaster

Gateway Grizzlies Frontier League Baseball