Washington Wins Sixth-Consecutive Series With 9-6 Victory
NORMAL, Ill. – Tonight, with a 9-6 win, the Washington Wild Things (28-19) not only won in come-back fashion for the 16th time this season, but in defeating the Normal CornBelters (23-25) won their sixth-consecutive series. After a rough start from Cameron Stanton, the Wild Things stayed resilient, using a solid second and third inning, as well as a six-run sixth inning, to come out on top in the rubber match of the series.
Cameron Stanton started for the Wild Things and gave up four runs in two innings, before Aaron Burns came on to clean things up. Burns, who got the win tonight, pitched four innings of scoreless baseball before turning things over to Mark Smyth, Davis Adkins and Zach Strecker to close things out. Strecker, an all-star, recorded his 12th save.
Normal’s starter also got roughed up, as Matt Portland surrendered three runs in 2.2 innings. After taking a 2-0 lead in the home first, Normal allowed a run to Washington without the Wild Things getting a hit in the second. Designated hitter Kenny Peoples-Walls drove in the run on a fielder’s choice.
The CornBelters added two more in the home half of the second to lead 4-1, before Washington got two back on run-scoring singles by first baseman Kane Sweeney and third baseman Mike Hill. The score would stay 4-3 in favor of Normal until the visitor’s sixth, an inning that would see Washington strike for six runs. Second baseman Alex Fernandez drove in a run with a book-rule double to tie things at 4, before centerfielder Rashad Brown singled in a run. On the play, Brown rounded first hard and the throw came behind the speedy lead-off man. Fernandez would come across on the throw to give the Wild Things a two-run lead. Bralin Jackson drove in a run on a fielder’s choice and then Sweeney hit a two-run home run for the final Wild Things’ runs, making it 9-4.
Normal added two in the seventh before being shut down the rest of the way by Adkins and Strecker.
In the win, Sweeney reached base five times (three walks). The three walks match a season high for the team in the category for a single game, as Sweeney matches the mark he set in the season opener. Peoples-Walls also had his second three-hit game of the series.
The Wild Things return home for the final three games prior to this year’s All-Star break andplay the series opener against the Gateway Grizzlies tomorrow, Friday, July 7, at Wild Things Park. It’s a free shirt Friday and a fireworks Friday at the park, and is also Military night as the team will don special camo jerseys and auction them off for charity. Chase Cunningham looks to defend his perfect 6-0 record with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
