The Washington Wild Things began a six-game homestand with a double header split with the Rockford Aviators on Wednesday night as they walked-off in extras in game one before blowing a late-inning lead in the second.
Game 1
The Wild Things (8-8) got a strong pitching performance from Luke Wilkins, but needed a walk-off in extras to defeat the Aviators 2-1.
Wilkins allowed one run over six innings of six-hit ball while walking one and striking out four. He experienced trouble in the second when the Aviators (12-4) loaded the bases with no out. Wilkins then got a run-scoring double play and a strikeout to get out of the jam.
He experienced more trouble in the sixth with the game tied at one when Rockford put runners on the corners with one out. Wilkins, again, worked out of it with a strikeout and a fly out to right to end the inning.
Tim Giel (1-0) then came in and worked two no-hit innings while striking out two to set up the walk-off.
Sam Mende started the bottom of the eighth with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Rockford then loaded the bases with two out when Austin Wobrock hit a bloop single over the shortstop’s head for the winning RBI.
Wobrock was 2-for-4 on the night collecting his first hits at Consol Energy Park this season after going 0-for-18 in the opening series. He did pick it up during the recent right-game road trip batting .500 in those games.
“I just changed my approach on the trip,” said Wobrock. “You don’t want to press, but it happens and the guys were really helpful to get me back to my original swing.”
Starters Lines
(WAS) Wilkins (ND): 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K’s, 1 HBP. 87 Pitches (54 Strikes).
(RCK) Brueggemann (ND): 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 9 K’s. 99 Pitches (67 Strikes).
Game 2
Wild Things starter Kyle Vazquez did his job in game two of the double header leaving after the fourth inning with a 4-3 lead. The bullpen, however, couldn’t hold on to the lead as Richie Mirowski (0-1) gave up his first runs of the season — he had not allowed a run in his first 10.2 innings pitched — in the sixth.
“We have to find ways to close the door,” said Wild Things manager Bob Bozzuto. “Mirowski just wasn’t on tonight like he has been.”
With runners on first and second and one out, the Aviators (13-4) tied the game on a double steal and a throwing error by catcher Maxx Garrett. Mirowski then allowed an RBI single to give Rockford their first lead of the night.
Washington (8-9) then went down quietly over the final two innings finishing the twin bill with a split and ending their six-game win streak.
Lee Orr and David Popkins paced the Wild Things with home runs in the contest.
“We had some opportunities early, but didn’t score with their starter in the game,” said Bozzuto. “We need to score those runs.”
Starters Lines
(WAS) Vasquez (ND): 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K’s. 83 Pitches (51 Strikes).
(RCK) Holback (ND): 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K’s, 1 HR. 61 Pitches (31 Strikes).
The Wild Things will look for a series victory Thursday night at 7:05.
(Photo Credit: Washington Wild Things)
