After both starters retired the first six batters of the game Gateway plated a run in the top of the third, ending a run of 11 straight games where the Boomers scored first. Thomas DeBonville responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double to even the game, scoring William Salas. Alec Craig posted a three-run triple in the bottom of the fifth and scored on a DeBonville single as the Boomers rapidly opened a 5-1 lead.
Gateway responded just as fast, scoring six runs in the sixth, grabbing the lead on a three-run from Clint Freeman. The runs were the first of 13 unanswered for Gateway. Jay Prather hit a grand slam in the eighth and Isaac Benard added a two-run homer in the same inning to help the Grizzlies pull away.
Schaumburg stranded seven on base, six of which were in scoring position. DeBonville paced a nine-hit attack with four, tallying two doubles and two RBIs. Cris Ruiz notched two hits while Keelyn Johnson walked three times in his professional debut. Shumpei Yoshikawa suffered the loss on the mound, allowing six runs in five innings. Four other pitchers saw the mound in the defeat.
The team hits the road for three games at Washington this weekend in a rematch of the Frontier League Championship Series. RHP Kyle Arjona (1-1, 3.80) takes the mound in the 6:05pm Central opener on Friday night against RHP Rob Whalen (4-1, 2.59). Both played key parts in last year’s championship series. The Boomers (13-10) return home on Tuesday against Evansville for a five game homestand. Tickets for the 2022 season are on sale now! Visit www.boomersbaseball.com.