Kirby, home runs spark Wild Things over Gateway
SAUGET, Ill. – Zach Kirby allowed one run over six innings, Anthony Brocato hit his league-leading 30th home run and the Wild Things defeated the Gateway Grizzlies 8-4 Tuesday night in a series opener at Arsenal BG Ballpark.
The win dropped the Wild Things’ magic number for making the Frontier League playoffs to 1. Any Wild Things win or Windy City loss will put Washington back in the postseason.
The Wild Things increased their lead in the Central Division to 3 games because of Evansville’s 4-1 loss at Schaumburg.
Andrew Czech drew a two-out walk in the first inning off Gateway starter Ben Harris (6-6) and Brocato followed with a two-run homer to left field.
It was one of three home runs hit by Washington. Connor Peek and Caleb Ketchup both homered in the eighth inning. Ketchup’s shot hit off the foul pole in right field.
Kirby (7-1) allowed five hits and one walk. He struck out six. The only run Kirby allowed was a solo homer by Abdiel Diaz in the second inning.
Gateway’s Victor Castillo hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning off reliever Michael O’Hanlon.
Washington scored three runs in the fifth inning with two of the runs coming on a triple by Czech. The big inning gave Washington a 6-1 lead.
The game was delayed in the bottom of the fifth inning when one towers of field lights went out.