Runs Scored Early, Lead Added to Late in Win
JOLIET, Il. (Aug. 21) – Following a one-hour and 23-minute delay at the start of the game, Washington, after a bus ride out to Joliet following Thursday’s win against Evansville, stayed with it to score early, see their lead cut to one and then add four in the eighth to pull away late in a 9-4 victory to open the series with the Slammers. Washington cut its playoff magic number to four and its division magic number to 11 with the win and have 14 left to play.
Anthony Brocato struck first as he tagged Gunnar Kines with a solo homer in the second inning to center, his 27th of the season, putting him one off his 28 from 2023 for second all-time for a single-season in team history. The Wild Things added two in both the third and fourth, highlighted by RBI doubles by Connor Peek and Kyle Edwards. Also featured was a not-deep sac fly by Miles Simington that plated Caleb Ketchup after the plate battle for Miles lasted 12 pitches.
Washington built its 5-0 lead around three nearly flawless innings to start by Jack Brodsky. He allowed just three baserunners in the first five frames of his seventh pro start before running into trouble in the sixth. The first four batters reached including a fielder’s choice and an error on a flip on it toward second, chasing Brodsky. In that string, Joliet plated its first two on a two-run single by Peyton Carr. Michael O’Hanlon came on in relief and tow inherited runners came in charged to Brodsky. He got out of the inning with the lead intact, stranding the would-be tying tally at third.
O’Hanlon worked a scoreless seventh, allowing Washington to make a run in the eighth. The Wild Things loaded the bases with nobody out. Caleb Ketchup lined a would-be single to center for an RBI but an out at third caused it to be a fielder’s choice in the books. Connor Peek slashed home a run with his second hit of the night to follow it and two batters later Miles Simington singled home a pair, making it a five-run lead again at 9-4.
Eldridge Armstrong III and Colt Anderson combined to shut the door and put Washington in the win column. The series continues tomorrow night with the middle game, featuring Ben Kowalski for Washington and Eric Turner for Joliet. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05/6:05 p.m. CDT.
The team’s $50 pack of six undated regular season ticket vouchers and card for one ticket to every home playoff game is available still for purchase here.
The 24th season of Wild Things baseball in the MLB-partnered Frontier League is underway with more great baseball and entertainment to come. For updates, other information and more, visit washingtonwildthings.com or follow the team on social media at facebook.com/WashingtonWildThings or @WashWildThings on other platforms.
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