Washington, PA – The Washington Wild Things (26-17), presented by Washington Federal Savings Bank, lost game one of a three-game series to the Kalamazoo Kings (24-20) Saturday night. The loss ended the Wild Things hot streak and lengthened the Kings winning streak to five games. The Wild Things are still atop of the East Division with the All-Star break approaching.

The Kings wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Jeff Grose led off with a four pitch walk and was followed by a base hit by Joseph Ramos. Grose was brought home with a RBI single hit by the third batter Keith Brachold. Ramos scored on another base hit by catcher Michael Russell. Kalamazoo left the inning up two runs.

The Wild Things got on the board in the third inning. Lead off batter Kyle Padgett was walked and Kyle Werman was hit by a pitch to put two on. A wild pitch advanced the runners and centerfielder Chris Sidick was able to bring home Padgett on a groundout. Werman was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Jarod Rine and Kalamazoo’s lead was only one run, 3-2.

The Kings answered in the next inning. Jeff Michael came in the game to relieve starter Kevin Foeman and let the first four batters get on base. With runners on first and second, Grose hit a base hit to bring home two runs. Ramos hit a sacrifice fly to bring shortstop Mike Brady home and increase Kalamazoo’s lead to three runs.

The Wild Things chipped away at the Kings’ lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and one on, catcher Pat O’Brien brought home Robbie Knapp on a double to cut the lead to 5-3. That was all they could muster in the inning.
Kalamazoo answered right back, however, when Kyle Kmiecik hit a sacrifice fly off of reliever Justin Mattison to bring home a run in the top of the seventh. Mattison was later pulled in the inning and replaced by Ryan Davis, the Wild Things fourth pitcher. Davis was able to get out of the jam and Washington ended the inning down 6-3.

Sidick continued to make things interesting in the home half of the seventh. Following last night’s game-tying home run, Sidick walked and then was brought home on a Jarod Rine RBI double, making it 6-4.

Washington threatened in the ninth. Sidick and Rine were on third and second with one out in the ninth. Nathan Messner came on and brought Sidick home on a groundout to move the score to 6-5. Robbie Knapp came on with two outs and Rine at second. Kings closer John Sullivan was able to get Knapp to groundout and record his eighth save of the season.

The Wild Things host Kalamazoo Sunday at 6:35 p.m. and again on Monday at 7:05 p.m. before the All-Star break. For tickets, call the Wild Things box office at 724-250-9555.