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Grizzlies Stunned In Joliet

Gateway cannot hold one-run lead in eighth inning, drops opener of critical series

by Jason Guerette

The Gateway Grizzlies were one strike away from sending the game against the Joliet Slammers to the ninth inning up 2-1, but Tyler Depreta-Johnson’s two-run, go-ahead base hit off Sam Gardner (5-2) sent them to a stunning 3-2 defeat at Duly Health and Care Field on Tuesday night. 

 

The game began as a pitcher’s duel deluxe between Trevor Charpie and Carson LaRue, with both pitchers barely surrendering any baserunners in the first four innings. In the bottom of the fifth, LaRue lost his command, walking three batters and also hitting one in the inning to give the Slammers a 1-0 lead without the aid of a hit. He was able to minimize damage and strand the bases loaded, however, eventually finishing six innings of one-hit, one-run ball. 

 

In the top of the seventh inning, the Grizzlies struck back and took the lead by coming up clutch- with runners at second and third base and two outs, Jay Prather pinch-hit for Alex Hernandez, and came through with a two-run single to right field, putting the Grizzlies ahead 2-1. Nick Kennedy then worked around a one-out double for a scoreless bottom half to hold the lead. 

 

But in the eighth, after Gardner got a strikeout and a tremendous diving play at shortstop by Abdiel Diaz for a fielder’s choice, he issued his second walk of the inning to put the tying run in scoring position. Gardner then got ahead of Depreta-Johnson 0-2 before the Joliet shortstop lined a base hit to center field, giving the Slammers the lead on just their third hit of the entire game. Tyler Jay then retired the Grizzlies in order in the ninth to end the game, dealing Gateway their third one-run loss in their last five games overall. 

 

The Grizzlies will look to bounce back in the second game of the critical road series on Wednesday, August 17, at 6:35 p.m. CT, sending Manuel Rodriguez to the mound against Joliet southpaw Cole Cook.

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Jason Guerette is the Grizzlies' Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations and the "Voice of the Grizzlies." 2023 will be his second season with the organization, handling lead broadcasting duties on the Grizzlies Media Network as well as being in charge of all team press releases and game-day media materials.

2023 will also be Jason's ninth season in the Frontier League after spending 2014-21 in the same role with the Southern Illinois Miners. Overall, he has broadcasted close to 800 games in the league, including playoffs. During the baseball offseason, he serves as a play-by-play broadcaster for Manhattan College and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, with games being seen on ESPN+ among other platforms.

In addition to broadcasting, Jason works as a public address announcer for Seton Hall University women's basketball as well as Columbia University men's and women's basketball. He also spent nine years working "behind the scenes" as a freelance board operator and highlight editor at Westwood One for their coverage of the NFL, NCAA football, and NCAA basketball.

Jason graduated from Seton Hall in 2012 with B.A. in Communication Studies and a minor in Broadcasting & Visual Media.

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