Grizzlies Lose Rubber Game, Series to Windy City

Gateway offense goes silent late, defense commits five errors in blowout defeat 

SAUGET, ILL. – The Gateway Grizzlies were not able to gain any footing in the rubber game of their weekend series against the Windy City ThunderBolts, giving up runs in each of the first four innings in a 13-3 loss at Arsenal BG Ballpark.

With two outs in the first inning, after one error had already been committed, Alec Sparks (0-1), got a ground ball tapped back to the mound, but threw the ball wide of first base for a second error in the frame, with two runs scoring on the play to make it 2-0 Windy City. A subsequent RBI single by Donte Grant made the score 3-0 before Gateway could swing the bat.

The Grizzlies got a run back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI groundout by Dale Thomas, but Daryl Ruiz took advantage of back-to-back two-out walks by Sparks in the second, smacking a three-run home run to right field to make it 6-1. Again, the Grizzlies got runs back on an RBI groundout by Cole Brannen and a stolen base by Tate Wargo plus a throwing error on ThunderBolts catcher Robbie Ayers, getting within 6-3, but the runs kept coming for the visitors.

Windy City would plate single runs in the third and fourth to go ahead 8-3, and blew the game open with a five-run sixth inning, all with two outs on a walk, three hits, and another error on defense. The ThunderBolts' final run also became unearned thanks to an error in the eighth, with Gateway ending the afternoon with five errors in total, their most in a game since 2023.

Offensively, the Grizzlies' bats were held in check by A.J. Campbell (2-0), who tossed six innings for the win, combining with three relievers to hold Gateway to four hits for the second time on the weekend.

Now 4-5 on the season following a 3-3 home stand, the Grizzlies will head to Evansville after an off day to tangle with the Otters at Bosse Field. First pitch of the series opener in southern Indiana is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CT on Tuesday, May 19.

The Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball team, located a mere 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis in Sauget, Illinois. The Grizzlies offer baseball fans affordable, family fun at Arsenal BG Ballpark with a great view of the St. Louis skyline. They have also won two Frontier League Organization of the Year Awards, four West Division titles, and the 2003 Frontier League Championship. For tickets or general information, please visit gatewaygrizzlies.com or call (618) 337-3000.

The Frontier League debuted in 1993, and is the largest of the Major League Baseball Partner Leagues, featuring teams stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, and from the Ohio River to the St. Lawrence Seaway. More information and the complete 2026 schedule can be found at frontierleague.com.