GRIZZLIES STUN BOOMERS WITH NINTH INNING RALLY

Sauget, Ill. - The Gateway Grizzlies put together a three-run bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Schaumburg Boomers 5-4 at GCS Ballpark on Wednesday evening. Brandon Thomas, who had already homered earlier in the night, rocketed a game-winning hit to provide the Grizzlies with a walk-off victory. 

Gateway (31-33) trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom half of the ninth as Schaumburg's veteran closer Dexter Price (2-4) entered the game. Price walked Ben Waldrip to begin the frame. With one out, Seth Heck laced a single while Zach Lavy provided a pinch-hit RBI single to make it 4-3.  

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Logan Davis then stepped in and smoked a single to load the bases. Cody Livesay watched four balls sail outside the strike zone as Heck trotted home with the tying run. RHP Derek DeYoung replaced Price and allowed the walk-off hit to Thomas as he smacked a ball that bounced up against the right field fence.  

The Boomers (29-34) got the scoring started as Paul Kronenfeld hit a run-scoring single against Grizzlies starter Corey Kimes in the first. Kimes would dance in and out of trouble through five innings while giving up three runs. 

Gateway responded immediately in the bottom half of the first as Thomas launched a two-run shot to right field. His eighth homer of the season gave the Grizzlies a 2-1 edge. 

In the fifth, Schaumburg mounted a rally to take the lead. Mikal Hill evened the score at 2-2 with an RBI single while James Keller hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the go-ahead run and make it 3-2. 

LISTEN: POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH BRANDON THOMAS

Gateway's bullpen shined for the second consecutive night as the unit kept the game close.  

LHP Dylan Craig made his Frontier League debut and threw a scoreless frame in the sixth. RHP Ja'Vaun West continued his stellar work with a pair of scoreless innings after that. RHP Will LaMarche gave up an unearned run in the ninth.

The Grizzlies and Boomers play a rubber game of the series on Thursday night at GCS Ballpark. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Gateway sends RHP Adam Eggnatz (4-2, 2.89 ERA) to the mound while the Boomers counter with RHP Kagen Hopkins (3-3, 2.52 ERA). 

The game can be heard on the Grizzlies Radio Network, which airs Thursday on 1400 AM KJFF and online at www.GatewayGrizzlies.com/Radio. Sam Levitt and Matt Sabados have the play-by-play call. 

For tickets, please call the GCS Ballpark box office at (618) 337-3000 or visit www.GatewayGrizzlies.com.