MEQUON, Wis. \u2014 Tied at one in the top of the ninth, the Lakeshore Chinooks faced a moment of crisis against the Green Bay Rockers on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
A leadoff infield single followed by a walk put Green Bay runners on first and second with nobody out, creating a game-defining moment for Chinooks\u2019 right-hander Michael Sullivan. Yet the right-hander managed to induce a pair of outs, setting up runners on second and third with two outs, with the top of the Rockers order and third baseman Eric Jeon due up.<\/p>\n
Jeon, who previously homered in the third inning, sat back and sliced a ball down the right field line for an opposite-field, go-ahead three-run home run and the deciding blow in a 4-1 Green Bay victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes players just have your number,\u201d Lakeshore Chinooks\u2019 Manager Mikel Moreno said of Jeon\u2019s impressive numbers vs. his ball club.<\/p>\n
In 31 at-bats, Jeon is hitting .355 with five of his six home runs, including two multi-home run games. Fifteen of Jeon\u2019s 24 RBI have also come against Lakeshore, including all four on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery pitch is important,\u201d Moreno said regarding how Tuesday\u2019s game came down to two swings.<\/p>\n
Despite the late-inning blow, the Chinooks overcame a 1-0 deficit thanks to reliable pitching and timely offense.<\/p>\n
After a one-out double by first baseman Grant Gray, his second extra-base hit of the night, the Chinooks found themselves with a golden opportunity to tie the game with Monday\u2019s hero, right fielder Jack Counsell, up.<\/p>\n
However, a pair of wild pitches by Rockers\u2019 right-hander KJ Ward allowed Gray to score the tying run without Counsell taking the bat off his shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was trying to be aggressive and cause havoc,\u201d Gray said on how he possibly induced Ward\u2019s wildness.<\/p>\n
Gray said his goal was to look for a ball in the dirt late in the game to scramble home, and the UCLA product did just that.<\/p>\n
Gray showcased his athleticism on Thursday night, a trait that also assisted Chinooks\u2019 starting pitcher Logan Grubb.<\/p>\n
After a missed catch by Chinooks\u2019 second baseman Esteban Garcia on a pickoff throw in the second, Gray saved two runs on a diving stop.<\/p>\n
Gray said his goal is always to bounce back and pick up his teammates, as baseball is a game of failure.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know that you\u2019re gonna fail, so you must clear everything out of your mind very quickly,\u201d Gray said of his ability to move on to the next play.<\/p>\n
The lefty Grubb further expressed his trust in his defense, showing his appreciation for players like Gray.<\/p>\n
\u201cI trust them and I never doubt them,\u201d Grubb said. \u201cI know they\u2019re gonna make the plays.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his first start after six appearances out of the bullpen, Grubb tossed five quality innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits.<\/p>\n
Grubb credited his success to keeping the same routine as before.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got to plan for it and [I] kept the same mentality of how I\u2019ve been out of the bullpen,\u201d Grubb said.<\/p>\n
Grubb said Thursday\u2019s low-scoring battle was a grind, and he took every at-bat for granted.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery pitch, it matters,\u201d Grubb said.<\/p>\n
Lakeshore heads north to Green Bay for the final time in 2025 on Friday evening, concluding the season series vs. the Rockers at 6:35 CDT.<\/p>\n
Mr. Chinook, right-hander Arthur Liebau will start.<\/p>\n
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