by Story submitted by Tony Carter
The Gateway Grizzlies take the second game of a three-game set against the Lake Erie Crushers on Wednesday at Mercy Health Stadium. Grizzlies starter Collin Sullivan had a solid outing, tossing seven and one-third innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits with 7 punch-outs. More of the same story as yesterday’s contest between these two division opponents. The Crusher lineup had a difficult time stringing together hits and putting runs on the board.
Lake Erie starter Angelo Baez looked strong throughout the course of the ballgame. Baez allowed 5 hits, 2 earned runs, walked 2 batters, and finished with 5 strikeouts in 6 complete innings. In the top of the second, designated hitter Peter Zimmermann crushed a ball of wall in left-center field. A much-needed homerun for Zimmermann, as he went 0-for-5 in his previous game.
Crusher catcher Sicnarf Loopstok responded in a huge way during the next half-inning, sending a ball over the left field wall to tie it up at 1. Third baseman Kenen Irizarry found the left-center field gap, tripling in the next at-bat, setting up right fielder Ellison Hanna II with an RBI chance. Hanna hit a rocket right into glove of Gateway right fielder Jairus Richards. Irizarry–attempting to tag home plate–was thrown out as Richards threw a pellet to catcher Willie Estrada.
It was a pitcher’s duel up until the top of the fifth. Baez, who had only allowed 2 Gateway hitters to reach base since Zimmermann’s homerun, gave up a lead-off no-doubter to third baseman DJ Stewart. After allowing 2 straight hits, Baez got out of a jam, fanning Grizzly first baseman Clint Freeman.
Baes was relieved by Trevor Kuncl in the 7th inning. Kuncl allowed 1 hit and 1 walk but pitched his way out of the inning without a Grizzly baserunner crossing the plate. In a 2-1 advantage in favor of Gateway going into the top of the 8th, the Grizzly bats rejuvenated. J.D. Hammer came in to pitch for Kuncl, looking to keep the Grizzly lead to 1. Zimmermann picked up his second hit of the contest, collecting a double. Following a Richards walk, Stewart broke the game wide-open, blasting a three-run homerun. Stewart’s second homerun of the game was hit to the same spot as his first over the left field wall. The Crushers scored 1 run in the bottom half of the 8th, but let up 4 more runs in the 9th, merely deciding the game right then and there.
The Crushers were held to just 4 hits. Loopstok went 1-for-4 with a blast, Hanna, Irizarry, and shortstop Jarrod Watkins each collected 1 hit. As a team, they went 4-for-31 with 9 strikeouts. In 3 innings of relief, the Lake Erie bullpen let up 7 hits, 3 walks, and 7 runs.
On the flip side, Gateway’s bats were red-hot. The Grizzly offense was highlighted by Zimmermann and Stewart. Zimmermann was flawless from the batter’s box, going 3-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and 2 walks. Stewart exploded for 3 hits, including 2 homeruns, and an eye-opening 6 RBI’s. Shortstop Abdiel Diaz, second baseman Gabe Holt, and left fielder Andrew Penner amassed 2 hits.
In Baez’s fourth start of the season, he suffered his first loss. The 2 runs he allowed in today’s contest were the first 2 runs he had given up through 25 total innings pitched this season. His ERA stands at 0.72 after today, which is video-game like numbers.
Lake Erie looks to break their 2-game skid and try to salvage one win against the Gateway Grizzlies during this mini-series. First pitch for tomorrow’s matchup is slated for 6:35 Eastern at Mercy Health Stadium.
