The Washington Wild Things sure are happy that their Tuesday night game was rained out. Newcomer Quincy Latimore, who joined the team late Tuesday night, was able to come in and start Wednesday and provide just about everything the Wild Things needed for two stellar victories over the Rockford Aviators.
Game one, which was suspended 1-0 in the top of the first inning Tuesday night, resumed play Wednesday morning. The Wild Things had originally sent Shawn Smith to the mound Tuesday, but quickly pulled him in favor or Shawn Sanford. Sanford pitched 6.1 great innings for the Wild Things but was given a no decision.
Designated hitter Matt Greener put the first run on the board for the Aviators but the Wild Things would soon erase that deficit in the bottom of the 1st. After two bad plays by catcher Tyler Smith, the Wild Things had two runners on base. Latimore wasted no time in showing up, drilling an RBI double in his first at-bat, tying the game up.
The game would continue to be a see-saw battle, with Kenny Bryant hitting a solo shot for the Aviators in the top of the 4th, then Stewart Ijames scoring Latimore on an RBI triple to tie the game at 2-2. The same thing would ring true in the 6th inning. Grenner singled in a run in the top half, then Shain Stoner hit a ball that was ruled an error but still allowed Latimore to score.
The lead would change for the last time in the 7th inning.
Latimore would add to his day, going 4-4, by driving in CJ Beatty to score the go-ahead run that would eventually win the game.
Matt Phillips would get the win after pitching just 1.0 scoreless inning, and Jhonny Montoya would pick up the save.
The second game would prove to be another close game early, with the Aviators getting on the board first when Aritz Garcia singled to bring in a run.
The third inning would prove to be a doozy for both teams. After a single and a walk to start the top half of the inning, Michael Hur doubled, plating two runs and putting the Aviators up 3-0. Hur would score before the inning was over, giving Rockford a 4-0 lead.
The Wild Things responded quickly, though, plating three runs of their own to get back in the game. With two out and two on in the bottom half of the third, AJ Nunziato hit a bomb that would bring all three Wild Things across the plate, putting them down by only one.
In the top of the 4th, the Wild Things pulled Smith, who got the start, and brought in Zach Fleshman. Fleshman would go on to pitch 3.0 nearly perfect innings, only allowing one walk and no hits. In the bottom half of the inning, Stoner would drive in the tying run on a single.
The Wild Things would go up for good in the bottom half of the 6th inning after a slew of stolen bases and a wild pitch scored Lattimore. Stoner would eventually single to drive in the final run for the Things, putting them up 6-4 and on to victory after one final inning.
Fleshman would pick up the win, with Amalio Diaz getting the save.
Latimore would go 4-6 with a double, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored, and a stolen base for the two games. Ijames went 3-7 with an RBI, with Stoner added two RBI, and Nunziato added three.
The Wild Things will now go on the road, taking on the Southern Illinois Miners starting Thursday at 7:05 pm.
Photo Credit: Washington Wild Things
