Wild Things Blowout Miners to Snap Skid
AUGUSTA, NJ (May 19) – After back-to-back disappointing nights, the Wild Things ended their four-game skid in a big way by busting out the bats to the tune of an 18-run, 20-hit night in the series finale at Sussex County. Washington won the game 18-7. The night included a bit of single-game history for shortstop Nick Ward as well, who totaled two homers and six RBI.
The Wild Things jumped out to a quick start by scoring three in the top of the first. Two came in with the bases loaded on an opposite-field double by Andrew Czech and the third on a grounder to first by Hector Roa.
Washington added two runs in the second inning. The first run in the frame came in on a sacrifice fly to left by Nick Ward that plated Alex Alvarez, who had singled to start the inning. The second was LG Castillo scoring on an RBI double by Scotty Dubrule.
Sussex County struck back in the third by scoring four times on five hits against Washington righty Daren Osby. After a walk to Mikey Reynolds with one out, Justin Washington singled then Martin Figueroa hit a book-rule double to center to plate the first run for the Miners. Ariel Sandoval singled home two more then scored on an RBI double by Cito Culver. Washington still led by a run after the damage was inflicted in the third.
The Wild Things responded with a three spot in the fourth inning. Landen Barns notched his first professional and Wild Things’ double to start the frame and scored on a Nick Ward two-run shot to center, his third of the season. Castillo then reached on an error and scored later in the frame on a run-scoring single by Czech.
Four more came in during the fifth inning for the visitors. Ian Walters reached on an error that was followed by an Alvarez single. Another Sussex County error moved both those runners up and Walters came across on an RBI liner by Barns. Ward then welcomed Dariel Fernandez to the game with a first-pitch, opposite-field homer to left. Fernandez had relieved start James Mulry, who ended up yielding 11 runs on 11 hits over four innings and change.
The homer for Ward was his second of the game which matched the team single-game record. The last Wild Thing to do that prior to Ward Thursday night was Joe Campagna on July 28, 2021. That three-run bomb also gave Ward six RBI, which also matched the single-game record. That feat had been accomplished seven times previously in team history but not since Hector Roa did it on June 2, 2019.
Another Washington run came in during the top of the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Roa and Ian Walters. The latter picked up his fifth RBI of the young season with the hit. Sussex County added a run on a wild pitch and a run on a passed ball against Bryan Quillens in the sixth.
The Wild Things grabbed five more in the seventh. A Dubrule sac fly, another RBI single for Czech and a three-run homer for Walters brought in the tallies. The Miners added a seventh run on a groundout in the bottom of the seventh.
In all, every Wild Things’ starter except for right fielder Wagner Lagrange had at least a hit. Ward, Czech, Castillo, Walters and Barns all had three hits in the victory. Walters finished a triple shy of the cycle.
Washington will now return home for a nine-game homestand starting Friday night against the Empire State Greys on a Fireworks Friday at Wild Things Park. Tickets are available at wildthingstickets.com but if you can’t make it you can watch the game on FloBaseball, the official streaming home of the Frontier League, at flobaseball.tv or on the FloSports app.
