Washington Wild Things - Official Web Site

GAME RECAP

Wild Things fall behind early and cannot overcome double plays
Pitching duel goes in favor of ThunderBolts

Crestwood, IL.—The Washington Wild Things (36-23), presented by Washington Federal Savings Bank, narrowly lost to the Windy City ThunderBolts (43-17) by a score of 2-1 Friday night in a pitchers duel in Crestwood, Illinois to drop the first game of their three game series.

The Wild Things had a runner on with one out in each of the first two innings and were shut down quickly with double plays on the very next batters. They were then retired in order in the third inning.

Chris Sidick got on base with a leadoff walk in the fourth inning and was advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Jarod Rine was hit by the very next pitch to give the Wild Things runners at first and second with no outs. Nathan Messner then advanced both runners with a slow ground ball out in the infield to give the Wild Things runners at second and third with one out. Robbie Knapp then received an RBI with another ground ball out scoring Sidick to make the score 2-1.

Pat O'Brien led off the fifth inning with a single to break up the ThunderBolts no hitter. His hit was wasted, however, with another double play ball, the ThunderBolts third of the night.

Nathan Messner led off the seventh inning with an infield single. Messner was then hit to third on a Matt Sutton base hit to give the Wild Things runners at the corners with only one out. O'Brien was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. The scoring chance was ended by yet another inning ending double play.

Jarod Rine led off the ninth inning with a double to try and get a comeback rally going for the Wild Things. Messner was then walked on four pitches to give the Wild Things runners at first and second with no outs. A double steal for the Wild Things gave runners at second and third with no outs and also gave Rine a league leading 25. Matt Sutton was intentionally walked after a strikeout to give the Wild Things bases loaded in the ninth inning with one out. Quintana grounded out to end the ball game and leave the bases loaded.

Jarod Rine led all Wild Things hitters going 1-for-2 with a double and reaching base on three out of four plate appearances. Robbie Knapp had the Wild Things only RBI and Matt Sutton scored the run.

Left-handed pitcher Tom Cochran (6-4) got the start and the loss for the Wild Things. After a tough first inning, Cochran settled into his normal form. Cochran went seven innings giving up four hits, two runs, and striking out five. Gus Hlebovy came in to pitch in the eighth inning. Hlebovy went one inning giving up no hits and no runs.

The Wild Things continue their road stretch Saturday at 8:05 p.m. EST against the Windy City ThunderBolts. The game can be heard locally on WJPA 95.3-FM and online at www.msasportsnetwork.com.

Washington will return home Monday, July 30th at 7:05 p.m. to host the Rockford Riverhawks at CONSOL Energy Park. For tickets, call the Wild Things box office at 724-250-9555.

-Tommy Lazar

BOX SCORE

7/27/07
Washington 1, Windy City 2

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Washington	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	1
Windy City	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	X	2	4	1

Washington	POS	AB	R	H	RBI	AVG
C. Sidick	CF	3	1	0	0	.255
J. Rine	RF	2	0	1	0	.299
N. Messner	1B	3	0	1	0	.308
R. Knapp	DH	4	0	0	1	.288
M. Sutton	LF	3	0	1	0	.281
P. O'Brien	CAT	2	0	1	0	.223
M. Garza	PH	1	0	0	0	.200
R. Quintana	2B	4	0	0	0	.274
E. Earnhart	3B	3	0	0	0	.213
K. Padgett	SS	3	0	0	0	.224
T. Cochran	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
G. Hlebovy	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
TOTALS		28	1	4	1

Windy City	POS	AB	R	H	RBI	AVG
G. Mejia	2B	3	1	0	0	.294
M. Coles	LF	4	1	2	0	.342
W. Long	DH	2	0	1	1	.321
M. Hawke	1B	3	0	1	0	.297
R. Marconi	CF	3	0	0	0	.284
J. Horn	3B	3	0	0	0	.310
J. McCarthy	RF	3	0	0	0	.222
G. Concepcion	CAT	3	0	0	0	.238
R. Graham	SS	3	0	0	0	.212
B. Phillips	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
M. Causey	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
M. Petty	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
TOTALS		27	2	4	1

E--T.Cochran, G.Mejia. DP--WASHINGTON 0, WINDY CITY 4. LOB--WASHINGTON 6, WINDY CITY 3. 2B--J.Rine (9). SB--J.Rine (25), N.Messner (2), G.Mejia (14), M.Coles (21). CS--M.Coles. HBP--J.Rine, P.O'Brien.

Washington	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
T. Cochran (L, 6-4)	7.0	4	2	2	2	5	0	3.10
G. Hlebovy	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.52

Windy City	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
B. Phillips (W,5-4)	6.1	3	1	1	2	2	0	3.54
M. Causey	1.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.86
M. Petty (S,14)	1.0	1	0	0	2	1	0	2.30

HB--B.Phillips 2. PB--G.Concepcion. SO--C.Sidick, R.Knapp 2, E.Earnhart, R.Marconi 3, J.McCarthy, G.Concepcion. BB--C.Sidick, J.Rine, N.Messner, M.Sutton, G.Mejia, W.Long.

Time: 2:23, Attendance: 1,468