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RUTLEDGE – One day after recording a no-hitter, the Grainger Grizzlies didn’t have much luck against Gibbs as they fell to the Eagles 13-2.

“Gibbs is a quality opponent but you can’t win a lot of ball games when you don’t help yourself,” Grainger head coach Garrett Yates said. “We played them to a 2-1 ball game to begin the year when we played like we are capable of playing. We just aren’t really tough and that’s a coaching problem. When things don’t go our way early on, I can always tell you what’s about to happen. We didn’t throw enough strikes and if we would have thrown more strikes, we probably wouldn’t have won, but you have a chance.”

“We need to be more competitive in the box,” Yates said of his team’s offensive woes. “I told our guys when you get down 6-0 early, you have to do whatever it takes to get back in the game. We needed to get on base and their pitcher almost hit us several times but we didn’t get on base. With the type of team we are, we have to play small-ball and if you can’t get on base, we can’t do that.”

The bright spot for Grainger in Tuesday’s loss to the Eagles was the play of Caden Brabson. Hitting in the nine-hole, Brabson went 2-for-2 with two RBIs which accounted for both of Grainger’s runs. He also added a stolen base.

“Caden has been kind of a victim of circumstance as to where we can plug him in defensively and now that he is more comfortable in the outfield, he is doing a really good job. He has the bat, it was just a matter of finding a place to put him. He has come through like he did today almost every time this year,” Yates said of Brabson’s hitting. “Linx Moore hit the best ball we had today and he has really come on strong for us. The bottom of the lineup gave us the most production today.”

Lucas Duncan got the win for the Eagles and while not overpowering, he was efficient as he allowed no earned runs, three walks and struck out six Grizzly batters.

Abe Taylor and Tucker Ownby hit home runs for Gibbs.

Grainger will next be in action when they take on Morristown West Thursday night.