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Schaumburg, Ill. – The Gateway Grizzlies squandered a late lead and fell to the Schaumburg Boomers 4-3 in 10 innings at Boomers Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After taking a 3-1 lead into the bottom half of the seventh, the Grizzlies (37-37) gave up a run in the seventh and ninth as Schaumburg tied things at 3-3. Lefty Chris Scarlett (0-1) walked three batters and allowed a walk-off infield single to Mark Nelson as the Boomers won it in the 10th.
Gateway starter Corey Kimes provided a solid outing as he tossed six innings and allowed just one run. Meanwhile, Gateway’s offense pulled ahead early. In the first, Craig Massoni plated the game’s first run with a sac fly. Massoni gave the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead in the third when he smacked an RBI double up against the left field fence to score Seth Heck.
The Boomers (33-40) got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning with James Keller’s solo shot to left field.
Heck hit a sac fly to make it 3-1 in the top of the seventh. In the bottom half, RHP Jon Pusateri replaced Kimes. He gave up a one-out single to Kenny Towns. With two outs, Towns took off for second on a delayed steal. Gateway catcher Jason Scholl tossed the ball into centerfield and Towns raced all the way around to cross home.
After RHP Kevin Jefferis threw a scoreless eighth, RHP Will LaMarche entered the game in the ninth with Gateway leading 3-2. He was looking for his second save in as many days. After striking out the first batter of the frame, he walked Towns. With two outs and Schaumburg down to their final strike, Griff Gordon laced a double down the right field line to plate Towns and tie it at 3-3.
Schaumburg’s bullpen combined to keep the Grizzlies off balance. RHP Jake Joyce and RHP Dexter Price (3-4) threw 3.2 innings of scoreless baseball in relief of Boomers starter Seth Webster. Their work set up Schaumburg’s rally in the 10th.
In a bright spot, eight different Grizzlies recorded hits in the game. Scholl led the way with a pair of doubles.
The Grizzlies have two consecutive off days before returning to GCS Ballpark on Wednesday night to take on the Evansville Otters. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
For tickets, please call the GCS Ballpark box office at (618) 337-3000 or visit www.GatewayGrizzlies.com.
