Washington Bats Go Quiet in One-Run, Series-Opening Loss to Slammers
JOLIET, Il. (May 29) - Coming into Tuesday’s series opener with the Joliet Slammers, the Wild Things were riding a four-game win streak. Over that span, three of those wins came in one-run games. Washington (9-7) began a six-game road trip on the wrong end of a tight contest, falling to the Joliet Slammers (6-10), 2-1.
After a scoreless first inning, Joliet broke through for two runs in the bottom of the second. With two outs and two men on, second baseman Dom Iero doubled home first baseman Trenton Hill for the game's first run. After a walk to shortstop Chaz Meadows loaded the bases, center fielder London Lindley drew a walk himself, scoring right fielder Travis Bolin to make it 2-0.
In the top of the fourth, the Wild Things' offense finally got something going against Joliet starter Scot Hoffman, who retired the first nine batters he faced. The top two hitters in Washington's lineup—centerfielder James Harris and second baseman Carter McEachern—singled to start the frame. After both runners moved up 90 feet on a double steal, left fielder Roman Collins scored Harris with a sac fly to cut the Slammers' lead in half, making it a 2-1 game, which is how it would stay for the rest of the night.
Washington had its chances late in the game. In the seventh, with one out and first baseman Reydel Medina on first, third baseman Mike Hill hit a ball deep to right field that looked like it could clear the wall and give the Wild Things a 3-2 lead. Instead, Bolin made a potentially game-saving grab to keep the lead intact for Joliet.
In their next at bat, the Wild Things threatened again. After Brian McKenna issued two walks in relief of Hoffman, Slammers manager Jeff Isom called on Nate Antone, who walked the first batter he faced before facing right fielder Hector Roa. Antone did his job, getting Roa to ground out on the first pitch, and once again, Joliet escaped with the lead.
Despite a scoreless bottom half of the eighth from Nick Wegmann— who the Wild Things signed earlier in the day— in his professional debut, Washington went down in the top of the ninth, with Keegan Long striking out the side to earn his first save of 2018.
For the Wild Things, starting pitcher Chase Cunningham took the loss, despite allowing just two earned runs over six innings. Cunningham's line also included six hits, six strikeouts and four walks. Hoffman (3-1) got the win for the Slammers, allowing one run over seven innings while allowing four hits, striking out eight and walking just one.
The middle of this three-game set will take place tomorrow night at 8:05 EST.
