The Gateway Grizzlies got an amazing performance on the mound by ace right-hander Brendan Feldmann on Thursday night against the Joliet Slammers, as he tossed eight, two-hit, shutout innings with six strikeouts. But the offense continued to scuffle, as Gateway dropped a 1-0 decision in 10 innings at Duly Health and Care Field on a walk-off hit batter with the bases loaded, securing a series sweep.
Feldmann was locked in from the words “Play Ball,” allowing just two baserunners in his first trip through the order, then retiring the next nine Slammers hitters in a row. He eventually pushed that streak to 16 out of 17, striking out six batters and walking none while also throwing 70 of 97 pitches for strikes to dominate Joliet’s lineup and pitch at least eight innings without allowing a run for the third time this season.
But Joliet starter Cam Aufderheide was nearly as good, as he limited the Grizzlies to four hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings, departing with a runner on base and two outs in the eighth. Gateway then was able to load the bases against Caden O’Brien when the rookie left-hander hit Isaac Benard and walked Zach Racusin, putting the lead run 90 feet away. But O’Brien struck out Peter Zimmermann looking to keep the game 0-0.
Both sides got a runner on base in the ninth but could not break the tie. In the top of the tenth, with the International Tiebreaker in effect and an automatic runner at second base, Abdiel Diaz laid down a bunt single to advance Jay Prather to third base, again putting the lead run 90 feet away from scoring with no outs. But Tyler Jay (2-0) then struck out Andrew Penner, Benard, and Racusin in order to send the game to the bottom half.
In the frame against John Murphy (1-4), the Slammers would load the bases on a bunt single and a walk before Carson Maxwell was hit by a two-strike pitch to force in the only run of the game, sending the Grizzlies to only their second shutout loss of the season as well as a series sweep.
Having now lost seven of their last eight games overall, including four by just one run, the Grizzlies will look to bounce back at home when they host the Windy City ThunderBolts on Friday, August 19, at 6:45 p.m. CT. Lukas Veinbergs will start the series opener against the ‘Bolts’ Bryan Ketchie at GCS Credit Union Ballpark
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.
