Wild Things Have Nine-Game Win Streak Snapped at the Hands of Gateway in Series Finale, Still Lead East Division
SAUGET, Il. (June 14) - After the two teams scored a combined 60 runs in the first two games of the series, Washington and Gateway combined for 16 runs in the series finale, but the winner was different tonight, as Gateway (14-17) snapped Washington's win streak by taking the finale 9-7. The win streak for the Wild Things (20-10) ends at nine games.
Washington got the scoring started in the first inning with run-scoring hits by catcher Kyle Pollock and first baseman Reydel Medina. In the second, the visitors added a run on an error, and led 3-0.
Gateway scored nine unanswered, with three in the second, one in the third and fourth and four in the fifth. Second baseman Jonathan Piron hit a three-run home run in the second to tie the game at 3 before Blake Brown gave the Grizzlies the lead for good in the third with his fifth homer of the year: a solo shot.
The Grizzlies added a run on a fielder's choice in the fourth. In the fifth, Washington starter Danny Garmendia, who took his third loss of 2018, walked in a run before allowing a three-run double to Piron that pushed the Gateway lead to 9-3.
The scoring would cease until the eighth, when Hector Roa delivered his third home run of the series, this one of the three-run variety, to cut the Gateway lead in half. The next batter, third baseman Mike Hill, lifted a solo shot to right to bring the score to 9-7. Washington would manage to get the tying-run on base in the eighth, but the comeback effort stopped there.
Gateway's Will Anderson, who was activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, matched a career high with 10 strikeouts in six innings. He had struck out 10 batters in a start in 2014 while with the State College Spikes in affiliated ball. Anderson is now 2-0 on the season after three starts, with both wins coming against Washington. Kevin Simmons recorded his third save for Gateway by recording the final five outs.
The Wild Things' lead in the East Division is still two games as they head to Marion, Illinois for a three-game series with the Southern Illinois Miners. First pitch of Friday's series opener is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET. Thomas Dorminy (4-1, 2.90 ERA) takes the mound against the Miners' Geno Encina, who is 1-2 with a 5.04 ERA in 2018.
