The Washington Wild Things bullpen reverted back to their early-2015 selves as a three-run lead in the ninth wasn’t enough in a 7-5 loss to Joliet on Sunday afternoon at CONSOL Energy Park.
The blown lead overshadowed a strong start by Wild Things righty Luke Wilkins, who posted eight innings of two-run, five hit ball while striking out three.
Joliet (20-25) got on the board right away when Charlie White led off the game with a triple and scored on a Nate Roberts sacrifice fly.
Wilkins then retired eleven of the next twelve batters he faced before two singles to start the fifth pushed the Slammers second run of the game across the plate. He then retired eleven of the final thirteen batters he faced before leaving after the eighth at 106 pitches.
“The kid pitched one heck of a ballgame,” said Wild Things manager Bob Bozzuto. “He deserved to win it. He turned it over to the guys who have been getting it done all year and we don’t do it.”
Through eight innings, the Wild Things (19-26) had control scoring five times against Slammers starter Andrew Strenge.
Daniel Poma helped jump start the Washington offense in the third when he and Scott Kalamar started the inning with singles. Poma later scored the tying run on a throwing error by Slammers catcher Jack Cleary, who was trying to throw out Kalamar on a stolen base attempt at second. Carter Bell then singled to make it 2-1.
David Popkins finished the three-run frame with his 12th of the season and fourth in 15 at bats. He finishes the homestand batting .333 (6-18) with four home runs, five RBI, four runs scored, five walks and four strikeouts.
The Wild Things added two more runs in the fifth inning on a 2 RBI single by Matt Peters to extend the lead to 5-2.
Matt Purnell (BS,L, 1-1) started the top of the ninth for Washington and didn’t record an out as the closer walked the first two batters he faced before allowing a 2 RBI single to Phillip Bates to make it 5-4.
Richie Mirowski then came in with runners on second and third and got a quick strikeout before allowing a little-league home run to Cleary.
Poma misplayed the line drive to him allowing the ball to roll to the deepest part of the ballpark allowing Cleary to round the bases and complete the five-run inning.
The Wild Things looked to have a comeback for themselves in the bottom of the ninth when their first two batters reached to start the inning, but Poma’s misfortune continued as he tried to bunt for a single in a sacrifice situation and popped the attempt up to the pitcher, who then threw to second for a double play ending any chance of a Washington comeback.
“He needed to get the ball down in that situation,” said Bozzutto. “You just have to get the tying run to second for Kalamar and Mende.”
The Wild Things left 15 runners on base while failing to score with the bases loaded in the seventh and eighth innings which would have changed the outcome of the game gratefully.
“We should have scored more than five runs,” said Bozzuto. “With all of that being said, it’s 52 in the ninth and you can’t let runners get on there by walks. That just flows that way.”
Washington finishes their final homestand of the first half of the season 4-2 and heads on the road starting Tuesday evening for their final six games before the All-Star break.
Starters Lines
(WAS) Wilkins (ND): 8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K’s. 106 Pitches (69 Strikes).
(JOL) Strenge (ND): 4.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 K’s, 1 HR. 80 Pitches (44 Strikes).
(Photo Credit: Washington Wild Things)
