Washington Drops Pitchers Duel in Opener, 1-0, Despite Kirby's Brilliance Continuing

SAUGET, Il. (June 11) – The Gateway Grizzlies used a third inning run to edge Washington 1-0 in the series opener Tuesday in Sauget at Grizzlies Ballpark. Zach Kirby was brilliant again despite taking his second loss of the year, working his fourth-straight quality start on the mound for Washington.

Kirby allowed a third-inning tally on a double by Abdiel Diaz that plated Cole Brannen, who had reached on a bunt single. That was it against the righty. He threw seven innings of one-run ball and allowed four hits with five strikeouts, one walk and one hit batter. Kirby’s loss dropped him to 3-2 on the year. Ryan Munoz fanned a batter in a scoreless eighth inning after signing with Washington earlier in the day.

The Wild Things had the bases loaded twice in the game and failed to score, leaving eight in total. Washington has now not scored a run in 25.2 innings against the Gateway pitching staff, falling to 1-3 on the year against the Grizzlies with three-straight shutout losses. Tommy Caufield had two hits in the loss. The other Washington hits came from Ethan Wilder, Wagner Lagrange, Carson Clowers and Andrew Czech. Czech extended his franchise-record on-base streak in the first inning with a walk to 59 games before doubling in the ninth.

With the bags full, Alex Ovalles hit a ball on the screws to center but right at the centerfielder Cole Brannen to end the ballgame.

The two don’t have to wait long to go at it again. Wednesday’s middle game featuring Malik Barrington for Washington and Collin Sullivan for Gateway, a pair of right handers, is slated for 11:45/10:45 a.m. CT.