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Grizzlies Squander Lead, Series

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CRESTWOOD, Ill. — The Gateway Grizzlies took a 4-0 lead in the second inning and a 5-1 lead in the fourth, but allowed five runs to the Windy City ThunderBolts in the sixth inning and lost, 9-7, Thursday night in the rubber match at Standard Bank Stadium.

Gateway (25-34) was again denied its first back-to-back series wins of the season; the Grizzlies remain six games back of the first-place River City Rascals.

Paul Russo homered to open the game — the Grizzlies’ second leadoff home run this year, although they have lost both games. Shane Mardirosian had the other.

Russo and Mardirosian notched back-to-back doubles with two outs in the second to extend the Grizzlies’ lead to 4-0.

Jhonniel Alvarez launched his first professional home run (in 66 games) over the left-field fence in the fourth inning to restore the Grizzlies’ four-run advantage at 5-1. Gateway hit three home runs in the series; each big fly was a solo shot.

Windy City (21-35) needed only three hits — all singles — to score five runs and take the lead in the sixth. Gateway made two errors, walked a batter, hit a batter and tossed three wild pitches.

Gateway scored a run apiece in the seventh and ninth innings, but came up two runs short.

Russo and Mardirosian both went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk. Russo scored three runs; Mardirosian scored one. Cody Livesay had a single, two walks and a stolen base — his 10th of the season and 57th of his Grizzlies career, tying him with Jonathan Johnson for the most in franchise history.

Gateway will open a three-game series at home against the Traverse City Beach Bums on Friday at 7:05 p.m.

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