Kalamazoo, Mich. – With Rico Garcia on the mound for the Kingfish and the Growlers’ Ryan Smoyer, a pitching duel was the consensus result to start the game. It was evenly matched game, but the Growlers gained momentum and got the win 9-4.

Both pitchers allowed four runs to score early on and kept things tied 4-4 until the fifth. The Growlers were able to take the lead 7-4 against Garcia. On the night, Garcia finished with seven earned runs on nine hits, pitching four and two thirds innings.

The Growlers attacked first but the Kingfish were able to come back from four down thanks to a leadoff double from Zach Jones. He made it to third after Zack Kolakowski grounded one to second base that looked to be any easy out until the Growlers threw wide of the bag and allowed everyone to be safe. Spencer Gaa then singled under the glove of Smoyer to score Jones and get the first run.

Taylor Douglas would then advance Kolakowski who later scored on a Kyle Brooks ground out. Tuesday Night’s Player of the Night, Pat Porter then came up and delivered his tenth double to score Spencer Gaa and put the score at 4-3. Zach Ratcliff was able to continue the streak and singled home Porter.  Unfortunately, the Kingfish could not produce any more runs and were held to four runs on the night.

Brett Shimanovsky came in for relief of Garcia and pitched well, going the rest of way. Shimanovsky gave up just two hits and two runs while striking out three and walking one. The Growlers scored the two runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the score at 9-4.

The Kingfish are now 14-13 while the Growlers improve to 11-18, snapping a four game losing streak. The Kingfish travel to Battle Creek to battle the Bombers tomorrow. The Kingfish return to historic Simmons Field on Saturday, 28th and will have special guest Ozzie Guillen in attendance.