One couldn’t ask for a better night to kick off the 2015 Frontier League campaign, but the Washington Wild Things couldn’t find the big hit when they needed it as they fell to the Schaumburg Boomers 1-0 on opening night.
Wild Things starter Matthew Sergey started his season off with a 25-pitch first inning allowing a walk and a single, but got out of the inning with a strikeout and a groundout to first.
His counterpart, Boomers starter Eddie Cody, had the same first inning 25-pitch jitters by loading the bases with two out, but got Maxx Garrett to fly out to mid-right to end the threat.
Both starters settled down from there over the next three innings combining for only six baserunners while recording six strikeouts.
It was an error by Sergey in the fifth that proved costly. With runners on the corners and one out, Sergey tried a pickoff throw to first only to have it roll towards the Wild Things bullpen allowing the runner to score from third.
Washington manager, Bob Bozzuto then called to the bullpen, who silenced the Boomers bats over the final 4.2 innings while striking out five.
The Wild Things had a chance to tie things up against Cody in the fifth after a leadoff walk and double put runners on second and third, but the righty tightroped his way out of the inning with a ground out and three pop outs to infielders to keep Washington off the board.
Schaumburg then went to the bullpen, who allowed only one hit over the final four innings to secure the shutout.
“We barreled some balls,” said Wild Things left fielder C.J. Beatty. “They just didn’t find some holes or they went the wrong direction, but where were at right now is good. We’re working better as a team.”
Beatty made his return to Washington after a short stint in the White Sox organization. He was the backbone of the Wild Things playoff run a year ago.
“It feels good to be back,” said Beatty. “It’s like home. What better place than the Washington Wild Things to come back and compete for a championship.”
The Wild Things finished the night going 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position with the one hit coming off an infield hit to advance a runner to third.
They will look to get in the win column when these two teams meet up again for the second game of a three-game set tomorrow evening at 7:05 when Ryan Bores will take the hill for Washington against Edwin Carl.
Starters Lines
Sergey (L,0-1): 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K’s, 1 HBP. 88 Pitches (54 Strikes).
Cody (W,1-0): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K’s, 1 WP, 2 HBP. 89 Pitches (55 Strikes).
