Wild Things cruise to win over Gateway
After struggling to score runs earlier this week against Windy City, a four spot in the first inning Friday was a welcomed sight for the Washington Wild Things.
Continuing to add on made the night even more encouraging.
The Wild Things scored three more runs in the fifth and seven in the eighth in a 14-1 rout of Gateway at EQT Park
Three of the four runs Washington scored in the first on a home run by Tyreque Reed. Ethan Wilder led off the frame with a single and Tommy Caufield reached on an error by Gateway second baseman Gabe Holt before Reed’s homer.
Andrew Czech doubled and later scored on an Eddie Hacopian groundout.
The Wild Things (43-33) sent nine batters to the plate in the first.
Gateway (45-30) got a run back in the second on an RBI double by Dale Thomas that scored Victor Castillo, who singled.
But the Grizzlies couldn’t get anything else off Wild Things starter Zach Kirby.
Kirby (6-4) scattered five hits over seven innings of one-run ball with three strikeouts and two walks.
Washington added three more runs in the fifth, two on a single by Jeff Liquori. Hacopian singled in Liquori to make it 7-1.
Reed had a bases-clearing double in the eighth and Liquori hit a three-run homer. Reed had six RBI and Liquori drove in five runs.
Gateway starter Ben Harris (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season. The righty allowed six runs, four earned over 4 ⅓ innings.
Washington continues its series with Gateway Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.