Washington Wins Back-And-Forth Series Opener Over Traverse City

WASHINGTON, Pa. (June 19) — The Washington Wild Things kept up their torrid month of June with an 11-10 win in Tuesday night’s series opener with the Traverse City Beach Bums. Washington is now three games up in the East Division in first place with the win and the loss by Lake Erie. 

It was a banner night for both offenses. The two teams combined for 21 runs on 28 hits, with six home runs. It was a see-saw battle throughout, but ultimately, the Wild Things (23-11) prevailed for their 12th win in 14 games.

Traverse City (13-20) got going against Washington starter Chase Cunningham in its first at-bat. With two outs and center fielder Arby Fields on first, first baseman Luke Lowery hit his fourth home run of the season—his first of two on the night—to give the Beach Bums a 2-0 lead. Designated hitter Alexis Rivera followed with his first homer of the year to make it 3-0. Rivera would also have a multi-homer game, one of three players to do so tonight between the two teams.

The Beach Bums added on to their lead in the third. After right fielder Isaac Benard started the inning with a double down the left field line, shortstop Will Kengor drove him in with a single.

The Wild Things scored their first run of the night in the bottom half of the frame. With one out, designated hitter Louis Mele became Washington's first baserunner of the night with a book-rule double. Two batters later, center fielder James Harris drove Mele in with a single to make it 4-1.

Washington's offense turned it on in its next at-bat. After right fielder and reigning Frontier League Player of the Week Hector Roa singled home left fielder Roman Collins to make it 4-2, third baseman Mike Hill gave the Wild Things the lead with a three-run homer the left—his sixth of the season, and first of two on the night.

In the fifth, Cunningham retired the first two men he faced before Lowery reached on an infield single. Rivera made the Wild Things pay with his second blast of the game, and Traverse City retook the lead, 6-5.

Washington grabbed the lead right back in the bottom half of the fifth. With runners on second and third and two outs, first baseman Reydel Medina greeted relief pitcher Andrew Click with a two-run single to put the Wild Things back in front by a run. Both of those runs were charged to Traverse City starter Justin Finan, who picked up a no-decision, allowing seven earned on eight hits while striking out five and walking just one over 4.2 innings.

The back-and-forth pattern continued in the top of the sixth. With one out and runners on first and second, Benard hit a ground ball to Medina at first base. Medina threw the ball over the head of shortstop Brett Marr, allowing second baseman Max Dutto to score the tying run. The Beach Bums took the lead shortly after, when, with Kengor batting, a pitch by reliever Sam Mersing got past catcher Kyle Pollock, allowing left fielder Alec Olund to score and put Traverse City in front, 8-7. That same at-bat, Kengor added on with a single to extend the advantage to two.

Washington cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth, when Hill led off the inning with his seventh homer of 2018 and second of the night, and went on to re-take control later in the inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Pollock singled to tie the game, and McEachern scored, giving Washington the lead on a throwing error by Fields.

Washington’s third lead of the night wouldn't last long, however. With Davis Adkins on the mound for Washington, Lowery led off the seventh with his second homer of the night to tie the game at 10.

In the bottom of the eighth, with runners on second and third and two outs, Traverse City decided to walk Medina to load the bases for Roa. The decision backfired. Roa reached on an infield single to third base, as Lohr’s throw pulled Lowery off the bag. Harris scored, and the Wild Things once again took the lead. Zach Strecker made sure that this advantage would last, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth to record his third win of the season.

Cunningham also took a no-decision, staying at 1-2 on the season. He allowed six earned runs over five frames on 11 hits, while walking none and striking out seven.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow night at 7:05. Thomas Dorminy (5-1, 2.30 ERA) will oppose Jordan Desguin (4-0, 2.01 ERA).