FOR RELEASE: AUGUST 9, 2009

GRIZZLIES WALK-OFF WITH SWEEP

SAUGET, IL-Danny Morrow’s one-out single completed a three-run ninth inning Sunday afternoon as the Gateway Grizzlies defeated the Evansville Otters 9-8 to finish off a three-game sweep. The win came in front of 2,058 at GCS Ballpark.

It is only the fourth walk-off win this year for the Grizzlies. It is the first time the Grizzlies have won this season when trailing after eight innings.

Morrow launched a high deep fly into center field to score Charlie Lisk with the winning run. It was Morrow’s third hit of the day. He finished 3-4 with three RBIs.

Trailing 8-6 heading into the ninth, Joe Agreste and Joseph Scaperotta began the inning with back-to-back home runs to tie the score 8-8. It was the 11^th time this season the Grizzlies have hit back-to-back home runs. Lisk walked and went to third on a wild pitch and a throwing error. Jareck West then flied to left for the first out in the inning. Brandon Johnson was intentionally passed before Morrow came to the plate.

The Grizzlies (30-41) took a 6-0 lead with a six-run first inning against Otters’ starter Andrew Werner. Morrow and Alex Kerins each had two-run singles in the inning. Scaperotta drove in a run with a double, and Johnson walked with the bases loaded to pick up an RBI. Werner lasted just 2/3 of an inning. The Grizzlies did not score another run until the ninth.

Agreste was 3-3 with two runs and the home run. Scaperotta was 2-5 with the homer and two RBIs.

Evansville (23-49) got back in the game with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings and two more in the seventh to make it 6-4. The Otters took the lead with four runs on three hits against reliever Joel Boeschen in the eighth. Boeschen also walked four in the inning.

Tom Vesely (1-2) earned the first win of his professional career pitching the top of the ninth inning. Vesely walked one in the inning.

Five Grizzlies pitchers combined to walk a franchise-record 14 hitters Sunday.

The Grizzlies enjoy a league-wide off day Monday. They begin a six-game road trip Tuesday night in Traverse City, MI. First pitch against the Beach Bums is 6:05 pm, central time.

Joe Pott

Broadcaster

Gateway Grizzlies Frontier League Baseball