Brocato Hits 31st Homer to Match Single-Season Record in Defeat
SAUGET, Il. (Aug. 26) – Washington dropped Wednesday’s middle game to the Gateway Grizzlies by a final of 16-12, as they trailed 8-0 and eventually had it as close as 13-11 in the defeat, keeping their playoff magic number at one. In the loss, Anthony Brocato matched the single-season home run record with his 31st of the season.
Gateway plated eight runs in the first two frames before Washington plated its first five in the third. Cole Fowler drove in a run with a single, the second of his three hits in the loss. An errant pickoff throw plated a second run in the frame and Wagner Lagrange hit a three-run homer to cap the inning’s scoring. The good vibes didn’t last long, as Gateway was able to answer with four more in the third to lead 12-5 after three. Kenten Egbert suffered the loss in an outlier performance, as he allowed the 12 runs in his three frames.
The Wild Things responded with three in the fourth to pull within four on Miles Simington’s first homer as a Wild Thing, an RBI double by Brocato off the bat at 106 miles per hour and a groundout by Fowler. Eldridge Armstrong III allowed one run in the fifth on a solo homer, the only hit he allowed. The Wild Things scored on an RBI triple by Caleb Ketchup off the centerfield wall in the seventh, bringing the score to 13-9 and added two on Brocato’s record-tying homer in the eighth, making it 13-11.
Landon Ginn was tagged for three in the bottom of the eighth and Washington got a run on a no-man’s land double by Ryan Ford, who hit for Isaias Quiroz in the ninth.
The first eight batters in Washington’s lineup all reached base at least one, with seven of the eight reaching at least twice in defeat. The Wild Things got outside help from Schaumburg, who blanked Evansville, bringing Washington’s Central magic number to eight.
Washington and Gateway will play the finale Thursday at 8:15/7:15 p.m. CDT with Drew Stegura set to take the mound.
The team’s $50 pack of six undated regular season ticket vouchers and card for one ticket to every home playoff game is available still for purchase here.
The 24th season of Wild Things baseball in the MLB-partnered Frontier League is underway with more great baseball and entertainment to come. For updates, other information and more, visit washingtonwildthings.com or follow the team on social media at facebook.com/WashingtonWildThings or @WashWildThings on other platforms.
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