The game started out smoothly for Shawn Smith and the Wild Things, but as Smith started to make mistakes, the Frontier Greys capitalized on those mistakes. The Greys hit two timely home runs en route to a 5-2 victory over the Wild Things at Console Energy Park.
Smith started out the game with seven straight outs and took a 2-0 lead into the top of the third inning. In the bottom of the second, designated hitter Mark Samuelson walked, stole a baseand was later driven in by Nick Akins. Jim Vahalik capped off the inning with an RBI double. The two RBIs in the inning were the third of the season for Akins and Vahalik both.
The Wild Things offense would be invisible for the rest of the game.
In the top of the third, Smith made his first mistake. That mistake was a leadoff walk given up to Brock McCallister. McCallister would only have to wait two batters later before being driven in by Mike Gallic.
In the top of the 5th, the Greys capitalized on another mistake by Smith. Smith again gave up a leaoff walk and Blake Bergeron made him pay on the very next pitch, taking Smith deep for a two-run blast.
The Greys added one more run in the top of the eighth and managed to hold on to their lead for the victory.
Smith pitched 7.0 innings giving up only five hits, but four runs, striking out nine and walking two along the way.
The story of the game was the Grey’s ability to capitalize and the Wild Things inability to do the same thing. Washington stranded twelve baserunners throughout the game, only scoring on two opportunities early in the game.
Akins finished with two hits and an RBI while Vahalik finished with three hits and an RBI. The Wild Things only managed two other hits during the game.
Fuenmayor finished with two hits, including the solo shot, to lead the Greys.
The two teams will play again tomorrow night at 7:05 pm ET. Shawn Sanford will take the mound for the Wild Things. He’s 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA so far this season. He’ll square off against Matt Costello, who is winless in five games this season with a 1.58 ERA.
Photo Credit: baseballpilgrimages.com
