The Washington Wild Things continued their road dominance, taking down Traverse City, 5-4, Thursday night to earn the sweep at Wuerfel Park.
The Wild Things (13-5) showed that they aren’t just a team which can put runs up in bunches but a finesse team which can win ballgames with defense and pitching. Starter Scott Dunn (2-1) showed that, going 7.2 strong innings, allowing no runs on seven hits while striking out six Beach Bum batters to gain his second win of the season.
Offensively, Washington improved to a scorching 10-1 on the season when scoring the game’s first run as Carter Bell drove in a run on an RBI groundout in the top half of the opening frame. Scott Kalamar would later drill a two-RBI double to make the score 3-0. That score would stand until the sixth inning when Will Beckwith drove in two runs on a single to put Washington up, 5-0.
Traverse City would mount a four-run rally in the bottom half of the game’s final inning but it wouldn’t be enough to overcome Washington as Jonathan Kountis came on to get the game’s final out and earn his seventh save of the season.
At the dish, seven different Wild Things had a hit and Kalamar and Beckwith each finished with two RBIs.
Earlier in the series, Washington won 15-8 and 3-2.
In Tuesday’s 15-8 wallop, Washington received a career night from CJ Beatty, who went 2-for-3 while driving in five runs.
Trailing 3-2, Washington’s Beckwith drilled a two-run single in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead. Washington would never look back after they went on to tack on a run in the fourth and then add seven in the fifth to pull ahead. Catcher Jim Vahalik kept his hot streak alive, hitting a two-run double followed by Beatty’s three-run double and Stewart Ijames’ two-run home run to take a 12-3 lead. Daniel Poma and Beatty would the game’s final runs in the seventh inning.
On the mound, Tim Flight (2-0) picked up the win after pitching 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out three.
In the second game of the series, the Wild Things scored early and came away with a 3-2 victory.
Down, 2-1 going into the third inning, both Beatty and Ijames hit solo home runs to take the lead for Washington. The game would then turn into a pitching duel as Chris Phelan (3-1) threw 7.0 innings, allowing two runs while scattering six hits. Beatty led the way at the plate again, going 2-for-3 with the home run.
Washington, which is still in charge of the Frontier’s East Division, is back in action today as they travel once again to take on the Rockford Aviators at 8:05 p.m. Washington won a series two games to one against Rockford earlier this season.
Photo Credit: Washington Wild Things
