Ridings Sparkles as Grizzlies Out-Pace Lake Erie
September 3, 2022 – Frontier League (FL) – Gateway Grizzlies News Release
The Gateway Grizzlies got a fantastic outing from Steven Ridings (5-2) on the mound, adding to it great defense and early run production as they defeated the Lake Erie Crushers 5-1 on Saturday night at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
After Ridings tossed a scoreless top of the first inning, the Grizzlies wasted no time to strike first in the bottom half. Andrew Penner, Isaac Benard, and Kevin Krause led off the bottom of the frame with consecutive doubles, with the last two having RBIs attached, and Zach Racusin followed by driving in another run on an RBI single to give Gateway the early 3-0 lead.
Lake Erie would answer back in the top of the second with an RBI single by Casey Combs, but the Grizzlies got the run back in the very next half inning when, with two outs, Benard drove in Abdiel Diaz on an RBI single to make it 4-1.
For the next five and a half innings, both offenses were silenced as the pitchers got into their groove. For Gateway, Ridings finished his night on the mound by tossing a season-high seven innings while allowing just one run and recording five strikeouts to hold the Crushers at bay. It is the first time that Ridings has pitched seven or more innings in a game since 2019.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Clint Freeman led off with an opposite field solo home run to give the Grizzlies an insurance run and make it 5-1. Anderson DeLeon would end the night on the bump by tossing the final two innings for Gateway, striking out four batters and picking up his first save of the season.
Having now won three games in a row and five of their last six overall, the Grizzlies will conclude the 2022 season with the “Greatest Night in Baseball” at GCS Credit Union Ballpark and look to sweep the Crushers on Sunday night, September 4, at 6:05 p.m. CT. Carson LaRue will start on the mound for Gateway against the former Grizzlie Matt Mulhearn for Lake Erie.
The Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball team, located a mere 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis in Sauget, Illinois. The Grizzlies offer baseball fans affordable, family fun at GCS Credit Union Ballpark with a great view of the St. Louis skyline. They have also won two Frontier League Organization of the Year Awards, three West Division titles, and the 2003 Frontier League Championship. For tickets or general information, please visit gatewaygrizzlies.com or call (618) 337-3000.
The Frontier League debuted in 1993, and is the largest of the Major League Baseball Partner Leagues, featuring teams stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, and from the Ohio River to the St. Lawrence Seaway. More information and the complete 2022 schedule can be found at frontierleague.com.
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