SAUGET, Ill. — The Gateway Grizzlies trailed from the second inning onward Tuesday night in a 3-1 loss to the Evansville Otters at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
Max MacNabb (8-9) tossed eight innings and allowed only three runs (two earned), but took the loss. He struck out six.
Grizzlies pitchers have posted three straight quality starts — Taso Stathopoulos and Alec Kisena, respectively, Saturday and Sunday before MacNabb — but Gateway (36-55) has lost all three games and six straight overall.
Evansville (47-44) moved within 1.5 games of the first-place River City Rascals in the West Division.
Justin Ellison was 3-for-3 with a walk — the Grizzlies’ only multi-hit game.
Chris Metrick threw a perfect ninth inning and struck out two.
Gateway and Evansville will continue their three-game series Tuesday at 6:35 p.m.