Gateway infielder Gabe Holt catches a pop up during Thursday’s game at Grizzlies Ballpark against the Washington Wild Things. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

SAUGET, IL — The Gateway Grizzlies were held to one hit — a solo home run by its first batter of the game — and lost 6-1, Thursday night in the final game of their homestand at Grizzlies Ballpark.

The loss was the second in three games for Gateway, which meant Washington won the series. The Wild Things now have a 27-14 record and are in first place in the Frontier League West Division. The Grizzlies are 23-18 and are in fourth place.

Abdiel Diaz got the Grizzlies only hit of the contest, a solo home run leading off the bottom of the first inning to make it 1-0. Gateway’s offense fell completely silent after that, with Wild Things starter Dariel Fregio (5-2) retiring the next 16 batters he faced.

Deylen Miley was sharp as well, allowing just one run (on a game-tying RBI double by Evan Berkey in the fifth) on four hits while striking out eight over six innings to keep the Grizzlies right in the ballgame.

But in the seventh, things fell apart. A leadoff walk by Alvery De Los Santos (0-1) preceded the first error of the inning when a sacrifice bunt was thrown away by the pitcher. With runners at second and third base and no outs, a groundout by Berkey brought in the go-ahead run and made the score 2-1, and another ground ball to Diaz at shortstop turned into the second out.

But another ball hit to shortstop was booted for the second error of the inning by Diaz, allowing another run to score for a 3-1 deficit. Andrew Czech then singled up the middle, and yet another run scored when the ball scooted by Cole Brannen for the final error of the frame, sending Czech all the way to third base. Wagner Lagrange then greeted new pitcher Tyler Cornett with a two-run homer just fair inside the right field foul pole, completing the scoring.

Gateway will look to bounce back immediately on the road when they travel to Kentucky to face the Florence Y’alls for a quick three-game set over the weekend. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 6:03 p.m., at Thomas More Stadium in Florence on Friday.

The Grizzlies will be back in town next week, when they’ll host home series against the New England Knockouts and Schaumburg Boomers. All six of those contest will be evening games. That will be the first time this season Gateway will host an entire home stand of night games.

UPCOMING GATEWAY GRIZZLIES BASEBALL GAMES