** The following is an official recap from the team’s official site **
Washington, PA—The Washington Wild Things, presented by Washington Financial, scored runs in four consecutive innings and Stewart Ijames hit a solo go-ahead homerun on Saturday en route to a back and forth, 5-4 victory over the visiting Frontier Greys.
The Greys opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when designated hitter Mark Micowski hit a two-run double, scoring shortstop Brock McAllister and first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor.
Another run in the next frame and a tally in the third allowed the Greys to pull ahead 3-0 but the momentum suddenly swung into the bats of the Wild Things in the bottom of the third.
An error by Frontier’s third baseman Blake Bergeron, allowed shortstop AJ Nunziato to reach first base, bringing up catcher Jim Vahalik. Vahalik, skidded a double down the left field line to easily move Nunziato to third. With runners on second and third, Darian Sandford, and his manager drummed up a squeeze play to score Nunziato and give the Things’ their first run of the night.
A sacrifice fly by Shain Stoner scored Vahalik to cut the Greys lead to two. In the next frame, consecutive doubles by right fielder Stewart Ijames and Nunziato tightened the game 4-3.
Trailing all game, the Wild Things added another run in the fifth courtesy of a fielder’s choice by third baseman Jovan Rosa, that plated Darian Sandford,who previously stole second and third to knot the game at four.
Stewart Ijames, who has proven to be one of the team’s hottest hitters in 2013, blasted his fourth homerun of the season to lead off the sixth, and put the Wild Things’ in front 5-4 for the first time in the game.
Amalio Diaz dazzled in the bottom of the eighth striking out the side and Jhonny Montoya closed it out to secure the team’s 20th win.
For the complete box score visit: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=124104
The Wild Things search for the sweep against the Frontier Greys Sunday at 5:05. Tickets can be purchased at the CONSOL ENERGY Box Office or by visiting www.washingtonwildthings.com.
By: Deb Hilton
Photo Credit: Washington Wild Things
