By WJBC Staff
SAUGET – The Normal CornBelters lost their fifth straight game in a 7-2 decision to the Gateway Grizzlies on Wednesday night at GCS Ballpark.
The Grizzlies scored the game’s first run in their opening at-bat as Craig Massoni doubled with two outs to the left center field gap followed by an RBI single up the middle by Brandon Thomas. The hosts added a run with two-out line drive home run just over the right field fence by Sam Fischer for a 2-0 lead.
Gateway added three runs in the third inning with a sacrifice fly by Massoni and a two-run, two-out double that hopped over the right field wall from Vin Guglietti for a 5-0 advantage. A two-out, two-run homer just over the right field fence by Blake Brown gave the Grizzlies a 7-0 lead in the fifth inning.
Corey Kimes (1-0) worked six innings for the win, surrendering only two Belters hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Chris Carmain (0-2) also went six innings for the loss with seven runs (earned) on nine hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
The series concludes Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch in the St. Louis Metro East as the Belters send Mike Schweiss (1-1, 3.48 ERA) to counter Gateway’s Trevor Richards (0-1, 3.72) in a match-up of right-handers. Broadcast time on WJBC.com is 6:50.