Wild Things Recap 5/14/16
The Washington Wild Things and the Gateway Grizzlies played game two of their three game series in Sauget, Illinois tonight. Home run balls ruled the day and ended up sinking the Wild Things as they lost by a final score of 10-3. Even with the wind blowing in from right field, the short porch still proved a trouble spot for the Wild Things on the evening.
Conner Kendrick started the game for the Wild Things and struggled by giving up five runs on five hits while walking three and striking out two in 3.2 innings. Kolin Stanley started the game off on the right foot as he allowed just one hit through the first two innings of work. However, the fourth inning was the killer for Kendrick as the Grizzlies ran away with the game.
Both teams scored runs in the third inning. For the Wild Things, it started with a Jamal Austin lead-off double. Jamal would later score on a ground out by Austin Wobrock that moved him to third, and a ground out by Bryan Haar that drove Jamal in for the first run of the game giving the Wild Things a 1-0 lead. The Grizzlies got their run after a lead-off walk by Seth Heck and two wild pitches gave the Grizzlies a runner at third with nobody out. Heck would score two batters later as Vin Guglietti hit an RBI double to tie the game at one.
The big inning for the Grizzlies came in the fourth as they scored four runs to break things open. It started with a lead-off walk to Brandon Thomas followed by a one-out single by Logan Davis to give the Grizzlies runners at first and third with one out. One batter later, Cody Livesay lined an RBI double down the left field line to score Thomas and give the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead. The big blow in the inning came when Craig Massoni hit a three run home run to give the Grizzlies a 5-0 lead.
The wind was blowing in from right field all night long taking away the short porch in right, but it allowed Massoni to muscle the ball over the left field wall. Jeremy Holcombe came in to finish the inning for the Wild Things getting the last out by getting Guglietti to fly out to left to end the inning. After this inning, the wind was taken out of the Wild Things’ sails as the Grizzlies never looked back.
The Grizzlies would end up scoring in four consecutive innings as they added two more runs on a two-run blast by Brandon Thomas in the fifth to take a 7-1 lead. Then, in the sixth, the Grizzlies put the game out of the Wild Things' reach after singles by Heck and Massoni lead-off the inning with two on and nobody out. Guglietti capped off his big offensive day by hitting a three-run home run that sailed over the right field wall and gave the Grizzlies a 10-1 lead.
The Wild Things tried to crawl back into the game in the eighth inning when Austin reached on a two base error when Massoni dropped a pop up in the infield. After a Wobrock strikeout, the Wild Things were given some hope as Bryan Haar hit his first home run of the season, a two-run blast, over the left field wall to cut the lead to 10-3 Grizzlies.
However, that is all of the offense the Wild Things could muster on the night as they were set down in order in inning number nine striking out twice to end the game. Brian O’Keefe and Kolin Stanley each threw scoreless innings of work to end the game. O’Keefe struck out one in his inning of work and Stanley struck out two and walked a batter.
The Grizzlies and Wild Things play the rubber match of this three game series tomorrow night at GCS Bank Stadium as the Wild Things look to take a series victory. On the mound for the Wild Things will be Chase Cunningham who will be opposed by Sasha Keubel for the Grizzlies. The game can be watched live on the MSA Sports Network and first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Click the "Watch Live" link on the Wild Things home page during any game this season to watch a live broadcast.
The Wild Things’ home opener will be Friday May 20 at 7:05 at CONSOL Energy Park in Washington, Pa. It's the first Fireworks Friday of the year. Every Friday home game is a Fireworks Friday! Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 724-250-9555.
