Sanchez delivers in 10th as Wild Things win
SAUGET, Ill. – Ricardo Sanchez has had a slow start in his first season with the Wild Things but the catcher delivered his biggest hit Thursday night.
Sanchez’s tiebreaking RBI double in the 10th inning scored Robert Chayka and the Wild Things defeated the Gateway Grizzlies, 4-3.
The win moves Washington (20-9) into sole possession of first place in the Frontier League’s West Division, a half-game ahead of Lake Erie. The Wild Things begin a weekend series Friday night at Schaumburg, which is one game behind Washington.
Sanchez’s hit came in the tiebreaker inning, after Gateway had knotted the score at 3-3 on a two-out RBI triple by Abdiel Diaz in the bottom of the ninth off Washington closer Gyeongju Kim (2-1).
The 10th inning started with Chayka at second base and Sanchez drove him in with the go-ahead run. Sanchez advanced to third base on a bunt by Carson Clowers but a popout and groundout ended the inning.
Gateway was able to advance its tiebreaker runner to third base with two outs before Kim ended the game with a strikeout.
Washington took a 3-2 lead in the eighth when a double by Wagner Lagrange drove in Evan Berkey.
The Wild Things were held to five hits. First baseman Andrew Czech went 0-for-4 and had his franchise-record on-base streak end at 60 games.
Christian James made his first start of the year on the mound and went five innings, allowing three hits and one run.