Sauget, Ill. – The Gateway Grizzlies scored seven runs early in Saturday night’s game and never looked back as they beat the Windy City ThunderBolts 7-2 at GCS Ballpark.
Craig Massoni led Gateway’s offense as he smacked a pair of two-run homers. RHP Vince Molesky (4-5) shined once again as he threw 6.2 innings and gave up just two runs while striking out eight hitters.
In the first, Massoni popped a fly ball into deep right centerfield that tipped off the glove of Windy City centerfielder Johnny Eierman and sailed over the wall. The homer gave the Grizzlies an early 2-0 advantage.
After Logan Davis drove in a run with a single in the second, Massoni struck again against RHP Tyler Murphy (2-4) in the third as he hit one off the right field foul pole for another two-run shot. It was his 12th homer of the season and he finished the evening with 4 RBI.
Brandon Thomas extended Gateway’s lead to 7-0 when he laced a two-run double into the left centerfield gap in the fourth. Murphy would ultimately go just 3.2 innings while giving up the seven earned runs.
The Grizzlies (33-34) counted on Molesky to provide another quality start. He did not allow a hit until the fifth and has now allowed just four runs combined in his last three outings.
Windy City (32-33) was silenced by Gateway’s bullpen. RHP Ja’Vaun West tossed 1.1 scoreless frames with three strikeouts and LHP Chris Scarlett polished things off with another scoreless frame in the ninth.
Gateway and Windy City square off in the rubber game of their weekend series on Sunday evening at GCS Ballpark. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. LHP Jon Jones (2-2, 3.49 ERA) takes the ball for the Grizzlies against ThunderBolts RHP Kyle Von Ruden (1-1, 2.61 ERA).
The game can be heard on the Grizzlies Radio Network, which airs Sunday online at www.GatewayGrizzlies.com/Radio. Sam Levitt and Matt Sabados have the call.
For tickets, please call the GCS Ballpark box office at (618) 337-3000 or visit www.GatewayGrizzlies.com.
