Jul 1, 2025 1 min read

SAUGET, Ill. – Victor Castillo went 5-for-5 and drove in three runs, powering Gateway to a 13-6 win over the Wild Things on Tuesday in a series opener.

The loss, combined with Lake Erie’s 4-0 win over Joliet, trimmed Washington’s lead in the Central Division to 2½ games.

Castillo, the Grizzlies’ right fielder, had an RBI single in the fourth inning, when Gateway scored four runs off Washington starter Dominic Puccetti (2-2) and took the lead for good.

Edwin Mateo and Cole Brannen, the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters in the Grizzlies’ lineup, smacked back-to-back homers in Gateway’s four-run sixth inning.

Washington fell behind 5-2 early but tied it in the fourth. Andrew Czech hit a 425-foot home run and Kadon Morton added an RBI double down the left-field line that cut Gateway’s lead to 5-4. A sacrifice fly by Three Hillier scored Cael Chatham and tied the score at 5-5.

Gateway, however, would regain the lead by scoring four runs after two outs in the bottom of the fourth. The Grizzlies had three four-run innings.

Lucas Veinbergs (3-3) was the winning pitcher.

Puccetti gave up 11 hits and nine runs (eight earned) in five innings.