SAUGET, Ill. (Sep. 4, 2026) — Despite Kyle Booker connecting on his 10th home run of the year and Gray Bane collecting his first hit as a professional, a six-run bottom of the second proved too much for the Mississippi Mud Monsters (39-60) to overcome in a 7-3 series-opening loss to the Gateway Grizzlies (43-56) Friday night.

After securing a series victory against the Joliet Slammers Thursday night, the Mud Monsters sent right-hander Sergio Sanchez to the mound for his final start of the season looking to continue the winning momentum.

Sanchez entered coming off his deepest start of the year, in which he tossed 7.0 innings against the Windy City ThunderBolts on Aug. 29. The right-hander from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, led the Mud Monsters to their only victory of the six-game home series against the ThunderBolts.

Mississippi began the evening with its first two batters reaching on back-to-back walks drawn by Brayland Skinner and Amani Larry.

A wild pitch advanced Skinner to third before a one-out groundout to second by AJ Fritz brought him home to give the Mud Monsters an early 1-0 lead.

Sanchez’s fourth pitch of the evening was pulled over the right-field wall by Daryl Lee for a leadoff solo home run, quickly tying the game at 1-1.

Sanchez walked two batters in the frame, one with one out and another with two, but worked his way out of the inning without allowing any further damage.

Travis Holt drew a leadoff walk in the top of the second to put a runner aboard for Mississippi.

A double play followed to clear the bases and record the first two outs before the Mud Monsters were held scoreless.

In the bottom of the second, Sanchez ran into more traffic on the bases.

A leadoff walk to Jose Cordoba began the inning before Sawer Smith reached on an infield single. Sanchez then recorded the first out on a groundout.

Both runners advanced into scoring position on a double steal before Brennan Orf reached on an infield single that allowed Cordoba to score and give Gateway a 2-1 lead.

A walk to Lee followed to load the bases before Sanchez hit Derek Williams with a pitch, forcing home Smith and extending the Grizzlies’ advantage to 3-1.

The next batter, Bryson Horne, delivered a bases-clearing double to push Gateway’s lead to 6-1.

Horne later stole third with two outs before coming home on an RBI single by Jose Alvaréz to increase the Grizzlies’ advantage to 7-1.

Gateway starter Ty Good retired the Mud Monsters in order in the top of the third before Sanchez issued a leadoff walk to Smith in the bottom half.

The right-hander responded with a strikeout for the first out before Smith stole second.

Smith attempted to steal third, but Sanchez caught him breaking for the base for the second out of the inning.

Sanchez issued his second walk of the frame and sixth overall before recording a strikeout to close out the inning.

Leading off the top of the fourth, Booker jumped on the first offering from Good and lifted it over the right-field wall for a solo home run, his team-leading 10th of the season, to make it 7-2.

Sanchez continued his outing into the bottom of the fourth, where the right-hander tossed his first 1-2-3 inning of the evening and recorded his fourth strikeout for the final out.

With two outs in the top of the fifth, Skinner doubled the opposite way off the left-field wall before Larry drew his second walk of the evening to put two runners aboard for Mississippi.

Despite the scoring opportunity, Mississippi was held scoreless.

Good remained on the hill in the top of the sixth and issued a leadoff walk to Fritz.

A one-out single by Holt followed to put two aboard and knock Good out of the game.

Albert Rivas entered in relief out of the Gateway bullpen and induced a ground-ball double play to end the inning and keep Mississippi off the scoreboard.

After posting back-to-back 1-2-3 innings, Sanchez continued his start into the bottom of the sixth and retired Gateway in order for a third consecutive frame.

Gateway once again went to its bullpen in the top of the seventh, bringing in right-hander Andrew Ronne.

With one out, Bane, playing in his first game since re-signing with the Mud Monsters on Sept. 1, lined a ball over the second baseman’s head and into right field for his first professional hit.

The Mud Monsters were held scoreless before Mississippi turned to its bullpen for the first time in the bottom of the seventh.

Sanchez’s evening ended after the right-hander settled in following the opening two innings and finished with 6.0 innings pitched, allowing seven runs on five hits while walking six and striking out seven.

Braden Forsyth entered in relief and walked the first batter he faced before retiring the next three to work a scoreless bottom of the seventh.

Alec Sparks took over on the mound for Gateway in the top of the eighth, and Booker greeted him with a leadoff ground-rule double.

A wild pitch advanced Booker to third before Fritz grounded out to bring him home for his second RBI of the evening, trimming Mississippi’s deficit to 7-3.

Jase Schueller took over for Forsyth in the bottom of the eighth.

Schueller retired the first two Grizzlies before hitting Orf with a pitch to put a baserunner aboard.

The rookie right-hander rebounded to record the final out and send the game to the top of the ninth.

Sparks remained on the hill with the Mud Monsters down to their final offensive opportunity and retired Mississippi in order to close out Gateway’s 7-3 series-opening victory.