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After ‘sno’pening day lasted barely three innings last week, the Browns (0-1) fell to the Denver Grizzlies 4-1 on Sunday at Denver East High School. Even though the wind whipped, players and fans alike welcomed nine dry innings of baseball to officially kick-off the 2011 season.
Browns first baseman Dan Kozloski pushed in the lone Browns run on a solo homerun to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning tying the game at 1. The Browns kept it knotted until the eighth inning when the the Grizzles (2-0) lined a shot to centerfield with two out, scoring two and gaining the lead until the game’s end.
All day, the Browns were plagued by the Grizzlies’ agile centerfielders who snagged eight fly balls including four straight outs between the fourth and fifth innings. After a hitless start in the first two innings, the Browns managed to get two runners in scoring position, but failed to cash them in.
As the Grizzles took their 3-1 lead into the eighth, the Browns’ attempts at the plate were unsuccessful going 0-9 in their final nine at-bats.
Dakota Granzella took over the Browns’ closer duties in the ninth inning, but found himself surrounded with bases full of Grizzlies. After striking out the third batter, the Browns managed to pick-up a second out on a pickle between second and third. After the out, the throw to first looked to have snagged the final out of the inning as the Grizzle baserunner had wandered toward second, but the runner was ruled safe at first. The missed out resulted in a single and walk, loading the bases again, and an unruly pitch sent in the Grizzles’ final run of the game.
Gino Grasso pitched 8 2/3 innings before being relieved by Justin Hersch. Grasso allowed 3 runs with 10 strikeouts and a walk.
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