Wild Things Score Five in Ninth to Take Series Opener Against CornBelters 6-2
NORMAL, IL— Entering the ninth inning of Tuesday night's series opener with the Normal CornBelters, the Wild Things were in danger of losing their fourth-straight game, trailing 2-1. But right fielder Hector Roa instantly tied the game with a solo home run, and Washington (31-24) would score four more times to pick up a come-from-behind 6-2 win over the CornBelters (25-27) at The Corn Crib.
The game was scoreless until the seventh inning, thanks to quality starting pitching by Washington's Trevor Bradley and Normal's Mark Hendricks. In the top of the seventh, Miles Moeller relieved Hendricks, who had stifled the Wild Things' over six shutout frames. Catcher Kyle Pollock doubled to lead off the inning. After Roa lined out to first, designated hitter Reydel Medina-- playing in his first game since June 29 after spending three weeks on the suspended list-- finally opened the scoring with a double. The Wild Things' lead wouldn't make it through the seventh, however. With one out in the bottom half, Normal first baseman Chris Iriart hit his league-leading 16th home run over the left field wall to tie the game at one.
Washington had a chance to regain the lead in the eighth when it had runners at first and third with one out. But Normal's closer, Anthony Herrera, struck out left fielder Roman Collins and got Pollock to pop up to second base, ending the threat and keeping the game tied.
The CornBelters took their first lead in the bottom half of the eighth. With one-out and pinch hitter Sammy Vega on third, shortstop Santiago Chirino put Normal in front with a double. Once again, the lead wouldn't last long.
In the top of the ninth, Roa launched the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for his ninth home run of the season. Singles by Medina and first baseman Conner Simonetti put runners at the corners for number nine hitter Brett Marr. The Wild Things' shortstop came through, singling home Medina and giving Washington its second lead of the night. Washington added two on a book-rule double by Carter McEachern and a final tally on a groundout by Collins.
Zach Strecker shut the door in a non-save situation to preserve the victory in the bottom half. Davis Adkins got the wild for the Wild Things', while Herrara suffered the loss.
Both starting pitchers had to settle for no decisions, despite allowing only one run between them. For the Wild Things, Bradley stayed at 3-2 despite allowing just a run on five hits over seven innings while walking a batter. For the CornBelters, Hendricks gave up five hits while walking just one and striking out a season and career-high nine over six scoreless. He remains 0-1.
The middle game of the series is scheduled for tomorrow night. Michael Austin (0-2) will look for his first win of the season for Washington, opposing Nick Bozman (3-0). First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 Eastern.
