May 24, 2024 By Chris Dugan 3 min read

When you’re on a run like the Wild Things are currently on, these are the kind of things that happen.

With Washington holding a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning Friday night, Gateway Grizzlies relief pitcher Alec Whaley was in a full-blown jam. He inherited two runners on base, then was called for a balk and issued an intentional walk that loaded the bases with one out.

Gateway needed a double-play grounder to get out of the sticky situation. Whaley appeared to get just that as his first pitch to Robert Chayka was a slow grounder hit back to the mound. Whaley, however, fielded the ball cleanly, took a look at home plate but opted not to throw there for an easy forceout. He instead made a 180-degree spin and looked at second base. Following a second of indecision, Whaley threw to second base to retire Tommy Caufield, but the chance for a double play ended with Whaley’s hesitation.

Quincy Latimore scored on the play and it proved to be a key run in the Wild Things’ 4-1 victory. The win extended Washington’s winning streak to nine games, which is their longest since June of 2018.

Washington starter Kobe Foster (2-0) and relievers Alex Carrillo and Gyeongju Kim combined on a five-hitter.

Washington also scored a run in unusual fashion in the seventh inning. With Evan Berkey at second base after being hit by a pitch and then advancing on a sacrifice bunt by Caleb McNeely, Carson Clowers hit a grounder into the hole that was fielded by Gateway shortstop Abdiel Diaz. Diaz, who didn’t have a chance to throw out Clowers at first base, made a throw to third base in an attempt to retire Berkey, but the throw hit the sliding Washington second baseman and kicked into foul territory, allowing the Wild Things to score their fourth run.

Washington forged a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Tyreque Reed hit a leadoff single off Gateway starter Collin Sullivan (0-2) and moved to second on a single by Chayka. J.C. Santini followed with a run-scoring double into the left-field corner, and Chayka made it 2-0 when he scored as Berkey grounded out.

Gateway scored its run in the third as Andrew Moritz singled, stole second, advanced on a fielder’s choice and scored on a sacrifice fly by former Wild Things outfielder Cole Brannen.

Foster pitched seven stellar innings, allowing four hits and one run. He did not walk a batter and struck out five.

Carrillo pitched the eighth and Kim worked the ninth for his fourth save.

Roster moves

Prior to the game, Washington made several roster transactions. Closer Lucas Young was placed on the seven-day disabled list retroactive to May 21. Young had pitched in only two of the Wild Things’ first 11 games. … Signed were a pair of relief pitchers, righthander Christian James and lefty Liam Pulsipher. James is back for this third season with Washington. He had pitched in 87 games with the Wild Things and was 1-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 45 outings last year. Pulsipher is a rookie out of Queens College in New York. He is the son of former major league pitcher Bill Pulsipher, who after his career ended was the pitching coach at Winnipeg in the independent American Association, where the hitting coach was Wild Things manager Tom Vaeth.

Extra bases

Gateway, which set the Frontier League single-season record for stolen bases a year ago, swiped a season-high four bags. Washington had three runners thrown out trying to steal. … Attendance was 2,513.