Grizzlies Back on the Road for three

Photos Courtesy of Paul Baillargeon/ActionImaging.com

Hello all!  Back on the road we go..after a brief three-game homestand, the Grizzlies hit the road for three more away from home against the Freedom in Florence, KY.  The Grizzlies are coming off a 6-1 win Monday night against the Southern Illinois Miners to avoid the series sweep. 

It was been a tough stretch of games for the Grizzlies, but even with the skid they are still just six games back of Schaumburg in the West Division.  The Grizzlies currently stand 17-19 and have a 9-12 mark on the road.  The offense is still sputtering, but six runs on seven hits was an encouraging sign Monday.  One guy who is really seeing the ball well is outfielder Aaron Conway.  The Edwardsville, IL native has four hits in his last two games, including a double, triple and his first professional home run.  Conway has upped his average to .267 (my preseason prediction was .320+). 

The Grizzlies bullpen continues to be one of the biggest bright spots.  Meanwhile, the starting rotation is trying to find its groove.  Chris Enourato tossed seven strong innings, giving up only one run in the last game.  Gateway has only two quality starts in their last six games.  A big key for the rotation is to go deeper in games.  It's just a bump in the road in my opinion..the Grizzlies have a lot of great arms in their rotation. 

Only 12 games remain in the first half of the season..6 @ home and 6 on the road.  Below is the Grizzlies rotation for the series with the Freedom!

  Wednesday: RHP Tim Brown (3-2, 1.92)
  Thursday: RHP Ja-Vaun West (1-2, 6.75)
  Friday: RHP Alex Kaminsky (5-2, 4.39)

I head on the air @ 6:50 EST on Wednesday from Florence, KY.  First pitch is set for 7:05 EST.  Tune in on the Grizzlies Radio Network: 590 AM KFNS, 1400 AM KJFF, gatewaygrizzlies.com, kfns.com and the FREE KFNS App on your phone.  Go Grizzlies!

       -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young

Road Trip Nearly Complete

Photos Courtesy of Paul Baillargeon/ActionImaging.com

Hello all!  The Grizzlies wrap up their longest road trip of the season on Friday @ T.R. Hughes Ballpark when they take on the Rascals.  It will be game 9 of a 9-game road trip.  Heading into the game, the Grizzlies are 4-4 on the trip.  It has been up and down..it started with a sweep of the Normal Cornbelters, then just one win in three games with Rockford and now two straight walk-off losses to River City.

Wednesday and Thursday night have been tough for Gateway.  The Grizzlies had a 6-5 9th inning lead with two down and no one on base Wednesday..but River City rallied to win on a full count two-run single for pinch hitter Kyle Jones.  Thursday was different, but had the same result.  Former Grizzlie great Charlie Lisk homered off rookie reliever Gil Rehwinkel leading off the 11th for a 3-2 Rascals walk-off win.  Both games, GWY could've won.

No time to complain and/or panic.  Gateway is now 16-16 and 4 games back of Schaumburg in the Frontier League West Division.  The Grizzlies have a chance to have an above .500 road trip with a win Friday night.  Rookie Ja'Vaun West goes for GWY and rookie Jason Sullivan goes for RCY.  First pitch is set for 7:05 CT.

As always, you can catch all of the Grizzlies games on the Grizzlies Radio Network:  590 AM KFNS, 1400 AM KJFF, kfns.com, gatewaygrizzlies.com and the FREE KFNS App on your phone.  Yours truly has the call.  Talk to you Friday night!

     -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young

Grizzlies Start 9-game Road Trip

Hello all!

All Photos Courtesy of Paul Baillargeon/ActionImaging.com

How about the Grizzlies as of late?? Gateway has won five of six, including two of three from the West Division-leading Rascals.  Pitching has been great, offense has been consistent and the defense has been good as usual.  Fun to watch!  Below is the radio highlight of the week.  It's a Chris McClendon homer against his former team, as heard on 1400 AM KJFF our affiliate station. 

Chris McClendon HR vs. River City

Gateway continues to deal with more and more injuries.  Vladimir Frias fractured his right thumb during the River City series and Jonathan Gonzalez injured his right arm during the series as well.  Due to the Gonzalez injury and the retirement of Cale Johnson, the Grizzlies rotation is juggled around.  Here's how it looks right now.

Tonight @ Normal: RHP Pat Arnold
Friday @ Normal: RHP Chris Enourato (first pro start)
Saturday @ Normal: RHP Tim Brown
Sunday @ Rockford: RHP Ja'Vaun West (first pro start)
Monday @ Rockford: RHP Alex Kaminsky

Today starts a nine-game road trip for the Grizzlies.  Game one of three against Normal is tonight and then the Grizzlies take on Rockford for three and River City for three.  Gateway enters action tonight only three games back of River City in the West Division.

As always, you can tune into the broadcast tonight on 590 AM KFNS, 1400 AM KJFF, gatewaygrizzlies.com, kfns.com and the FREE KFNS App on your phone.

Go Grizzlies!

        -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young

Grizzlies Continue Road Trip Tonight

Hello all!

The Grizzlies are back in action tonight as they look to avoid the series sweep against the Schaumburg Boomers.  Gateway suffered a 3-1 loss last night in a quick two-hour game at Boomers Stadium.  It was the fourth loss in a row for Gateway.

All Photos courtesy of Paul Baillargeon/ActionImaging.com

Injuries have really hit the Grizzlies hard as of late.  Chris McClendon is the most recent injury.  He was a hit by a pitch in the ninth inning two nights ago and has his right foot in a walking boot right now.  He's also using crutches from time to time.  Mac is listed as day-to-day with a right foot contusion, but I would have to think he will be out for a week and most likely longer.  He joins Landon Hernandez, Aaron Conway and Sam Mahoney on the injury front.

How about local product, Justin Dunning?? He was signed Tuesday morning by Gateway and shined in his debut Tuesday night and kept it going last night.  Dunning is 4-for-7 in two games and has also thrown out two runners trying to steal.

Jonathan Johnson continues to tear it up for GWY.  He's hitting .338 with a seven-game hit streak.  JJ has also played a great defensive second base.

The Grizzlies will try to avoid the sweep tonight.  Rookie right-hander Jonathan Gonzalez will oppose Schaumburg righty, Tyler Watkins.  After the game Gateway will head to Avon, OH for three games with the Lake Erie Crushers.  We get to visit beautiful All Pro Freight Stadium..looking forward to it!

As always, you can listen to all Grizzlies games, home and road, on the Grizzlies Radio Network.  Tune in on 590 AM KFNS, 1400 AM KJFF, gatewaygrizzlies.com, kfns.com or the FREE KFNS App on your cell phone.  Go Grizzlies!

    Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young