EVANSVILLE, Ind. — After leading 6-2 going to the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday night, the Gateway Grizzlies allowed three runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth to lose, 7-6, to the Evansville Otters at Bosse Field.
Gateway (19-25) lost on a walk-off for the second straight night to fall 5.5 games back of first place.
Evansville (23-18) was shut out through five innings, but scored seven runs in the final four frames to move 1.5 games clear of its competition in the West Division.
Taso Stathopoulos worked 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball in his second professional start, but he did not factor in the decision. Colton Freeman came out of the bullpen to pick up four key outs, including the final two outs in the sixth inning after he inherited the bases loaded with only one down.
Shane Mardirosian continued to impress in his first series as a Grizzlie: He went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs, two runs scored and three steals — plus a diving catch at second base. Trae Santos was 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs; Brent Sakurai added a clutch two-run single and a walk.
Josh Glick (0-2) got his second loss in as many days; Kevin Simmons took his second blown save of the season in seven opportunities, although both ninth-inning runs were charged to Glick.
Gateway will finish its seven-game road trip with a three-game series this weekend against the Southern Illinois Miners at Rent One Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Friday.
