May 31, 2015 3 min read

SAUGET, Ill. – Right fielder David Popkins hit his fifth home run and pitcher Matt Sergey struck out 10 in six innings as Washington extended its win streak to five games, 6-1, against Gateway Sunday afternoon at GCS Ballpark.

Popkins, who went 1-for-4, hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to provide insurance for Sergey. The Wild Things’ righty pitched six innings, allowed three hits and one earned run to earn his first win. Washington has won 12 in a row against the Grizzlies.

Sergey struck out six through three innings, but the game remained scoreless until the fourth when center fielder Daniel Popma, who went 3-for-4 with three runs and a walk, hit a lead-off double and scored on a single by third baseman Sam Mende. The Wild Things (7-8) got another run in the sixth inning when designated hitter CJ Beatty hit an RBI single to score Poma, who hit another lead-off double. The Grizzlies (4-12) drew to within one run in the bottom-half of the inning when right fielder Madison Beaird, who started the inning with a double, scored on a fielder’s choice.

Shortstop Jeudy Valdez added solo home run in the ninth inning to secure the win for Washington. Matthew Purnell pitched two innings in relief and Tyler Wilson did not allow a hit in the ninth.

Gateway pitcher JaVaun West struck out nine, but allowed seven hits and five runs. The Wild Things continued to struggle with walks, surrendering eight in the win.

In Saturday’s late game, Popkins hit a home run and the Wild Things used a pair of three-run innings to defeat Gateway, 6-4.

The win was the fourth in a row for the Wild Things, who clinched a winning nine-game road trip.

Popkins gave the Wild Things a lead two batters into the game when he hit a two-run homer, his team-leading fourth of the season. The lead grew to 3-0 in the first inning when Edinson Rincon drove in a run on a groundout.

All of Gateway’s runs came on home runs. Richard Seigel tied the score at 3-3 with a three-run homer in the second inning off Washington starter Ernesto Zaragoza (1-0). Zaragoza was making his Wild Things debut. Washington took a 6-3 lead in the third inning, getting run-scoring hits from Lee Orr and Valdez and another RBI groundout by Rincon.

Gateway pulled to within 6-4 on a solo homer by Blake Brown in the sixth inning. The Grizzlies loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but Washington reliever Richie Mirowski entered the game at that point and got an inning-ending strikeout. Mirowski retired the side in order in the ninth for his first save.