Five Home Runs Help Propel Washington to 12-4 Win in Series Finale at Florence
FLORENCE, Ky. (July 5) - In the series finale in Florence Thursday, Washington was looking to avoid a sweep at the hands of the host Freedom, and did so convincingly, hitting five home runs in a 12-4 win to round out the exact first half of the season. With the win, Washington (28-20), ensures it'll be in first place in the East Division alone entering the final three-game series before the All Star Break next week.
Washington got off to a quick start, as Florence (23-24) starting pitcher Steve Hagen walked left fielder Roman Collins with two outs in the first, before catcher Kyle Pollock and right fielder Hector Roa launched back-to-back home runs to give the Wild Things a 3-0 lead at the outset of the game.
After the Freedom scored a run on a home run by first baseman Jacob Wark to start the second, the Wild Things responded with four in the third. Sacrifice flies by shortstop Brett Marr and center fielder James Harris plated the first two runs of the inning. The next batter, second baseman Carter McEachern, hit a two-run home run to right center. It was McEachern's first home run in 2018, as the Frontier League All Star pushed the Wild Things to 7-1.
Florence got a run back in the fourth before third baseman Mike Hill hit the first of his two, two-run home runs, extending Washington's lead to 9-2. Ricky Ramirez Jr., Florence's center fielder, hit a solo shot off Washington starter Chase Cunningham in the sixth before Hill's second two-run blast, and 10th homer of the season, gave Washington an 11-3 lead in the top of the seventh.
Both teams added a run late. Washington's 12th and final run came in on a single by left fielder Roman Collins in the eighth, after he had robbed a home run to end the seventh. The RBI for Collins was his Frontier League-leading 41st of the season.
Cunningham got the win after tossing seven innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. He walked three and fanned three. Steve Hagen took the loss for the Freedom, as he allowed 11 hits and 11 runs (eight earned) over 6.1 innings.
Hill led the way for Washington, going 4-5 with the two home runs and three total runs scored. Designated hitter Louis Mele had three hits, while McEachern, Roa and Pollock had two hits in the effort.
The Wild Things will head back to Washington for three against the Evansville Otters before next week's All Star Break. First pitch of tomorrow's game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Wild Things Park.
