Washington's Comeback Effort Falls Just Short After Five-Run Windy City First Inning
CRESTWOOD, Il. (June 2) - Five unearned runs for the Windy City ThunderBolts (8-10) in the first inning proved too big a hole for Washington to climb out of in the middle game of the three-game series Saturday at Standard Bank Stadium, as the Wild Things (11-9) fell tonight by a final of 7-5.
Washington starter Danny Garmendia got the first batter out and got a ground ball from Windy City second baseman Tim Zier, the second batter, on which shortstop Justin Bohn made a throwing error that allowed Zier to reach. From there, things escalated in the ThunderBolts' half of the first, as they'd eventually plate five runs on Garmendia, all unearned, highlighted by a grand slam from third baseman Riley Krane.
Washington chipped away through the remainder of the game but came up just short. In the third, Washington scored a run on a triple by center fielder James Harris. After Windy City right fielder Blair Beck launched a solo shot to extend the T'Bolts lead to 6-1 in the fourth, Bohn doubled home third baseman Mike Hill to bring the Wild Things back within four at 6-2.
The ThunderBolts added a run on a bases-loaded walk in the sixth against Jamal Wilson. Then, in the eighth, Washington scored three runs to bring it to 7-5. The third run for the Things came on an RBI double from left fielder Roman Collins, the fourth on an RBI double by first baseman Reydel Medina and the fifth of the game on a single by right fielder Hector Roa.
Washington brought the tying run to the plate after a Bohn double started the ninth, but couldn't come up with anything else, as the series was evened at a game apiece by Windy City.
Garmendia (1-2) was tagged with his second loss of the season after pitching five innings of six-run ball (one earned), while Windy City starter Will Landsheft got his second win of the year after seven innings of two-run work. Devin Raftery got his fifth save for the Bolts.
The rubber game of the weekend set is scheduled for tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. ET. It pits Windy City's Zac Westcott against Washington's Chase Cunningham.
