Jun 26, 2024 2 min read

Observer-Reporter

SAUGET, Ill. – The Gateway Grizzlies hit three home runs and took advantage of three Washington errors Wednesday afternoon for a rainy 11-5 victory over the Wild Things.

The loss dropped Washington’s record in road games to 17-5. The Wild Things still lead the Frontier League’s West Division by 1 1/2 games over both Lake Erie and Schaumburg.

After winning Tuesday’s rain-shortened series opener 6-1, Washington fell behind 6-1 in the fourth inning Wednesday. Five of the first six Gateway runs were unearned. In the third, a two-out Washington error preceded an RBI double by Peter Zimmerman and a two-run double by D.J. Stewart.

In the fourth, after Wagner Lagrange homered for the Wild Things, Gateway scored two runs. An error started the Grizzlies’ half of the inning and Abdiel Diaz hit a two-out, two-run homer.

The Wild Things had entered the game with the fewest errors in the league.

Washington climbed back to within 6-4 in the sixth inning with an RBI double by Tommy Caufield, a run-scoring fielder’s choice off the bat of Derek Gellos and run-scoring wild pitch.

Washington’s pitching, however, closed the door on the comeback attempt in the bottom of the sixth, when Gateway scored two runs without the benefit of a hit. The Grizzlies scored on four consecutive walks and a sacrifice fly.

Gateway scored three more runs in the eighth on back-to-back home runs by Gabe Holt and Kyle Gaedele.

Washington starter Jordan DiValerio (4-2) went 5 1/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and seven runs (two earned). He walked one and did not strike out a batter. The Wild Things’ relievers gave up four runs, four walks and two home runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Lukas Veinbergs (1-3) was the winning pitcher, allowing four hits and one run over five innings. He struck out seven.