When the Washington Wild Things resumed play this past Friday, it looked like things weren’t going to get any better. But with a late rally to overcome a 3-0 deficit, the Wild Things were able to pull off a 5-4 win in extra innings over the Schaumburg Bombers.. Saturday night didn’t go the same way, as they lost 6-3.
In Friday’s game, the Wild Things were staring defeat straight in the eyes when the Bomber’s second baseman Jordan Dean drove in the go-ahead run with a bases loaded groundout. In the bottom of the 10th, Wild Things All Star Stewart Ijames erased the deficit with a solo shot, tying the game at 4. After Shain Stoner was hit by a pitch, the Wild Things were able to advance him around the bases with smart baseball. Shortstop AJ Nunziato would make sure that it wasn’t a dull effort as he knocked Stoner in with a blooping single to win the game.
The Bombers wasted no time getting on the board to start the game as HR Derby champ Steve McQuails hit a two-run blast to put his team up 2-0 in the top of the first. The Bombers would add another run in the third off of a Brian McConkey single, putting them up 3-0.
The Wild things would finally see the run column in the bottom half of the fourth inning when Jovan Rosa hit a solo shot, making the score 3-1.
The rally would really start in the bottom of the 7th. CJ Beatty started the inning with a leadoff double. Beatty would later score on a wild throw down to second base on a steal attempt after being moved to third base by a Chris Costantino single. Later in the inning, outfielder Calvin Culver would single to score Costantino, tying the game up at three a piece.
The game would go into extra innings, where the Wild Things managed to pull off the win. Shawn Sanford pitched 7.0 innings, allowing 8 hits and 3 runs and was credited with a no decision. Jhonny Montoya picked up the win in extra innings, pitching 1.0, allowing 2 hits and a single run.
Saturday night’s game didn’t fare as well for the Wild Things as the Bombers carried an early lead to victory.
The Bombers got things started in the top of the second inning when Sean Mahaley hit an RBI triple to take a 1-0 lead. The Bombers would drive in one more in the inning on a fielder’s choice to bring the score to 2-0.
Things got worse for the Wild Things when McConkey hit a three run shot to bring the score to 5-0 in the top of the third inning. McConkey would drive in another run in the top of the 6th, bringing the score to 6-0.
The Wild Things would finally get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 7th when Stoner hit his 8th home run of the year, a solo shot. Culver would later drive in two runs to cut the Bombers lead to three.
Unfortunately the Wild Things would strand four more runners in the final two innings as the Bombers held on to win.
The loss marked another poor outing by Gary Lee, who pitched 7.0 innings, giving up 8 hits and all 6 runs, 3 of them earned.
For the weekend, Culver went 2-7 for the Wild Things while driving in three runs.
The Wild Things will take on the Bombers again today at 5:05 pm ET from CONSOLE Energy Park in Washington, Pa.
Photo Credit: Washington Wild Things
