Sunnafrank Dazzles in Five Innings, Offense Puts Together Solid Performance in Rubber Game Win
CRESTVIEW, Il. (Aug. 19) – A three-run fifth inning proved to be the difference for the Washington Wild Things as the team cruised to a 6-2 win over the Windy City ThunderBolts Sunday afternoon.
With the win, Washington (48-36) has now won seven straight series. The team’s magic number to clinch a playoff berth is eight, while its magic number to clinch the East Division is 11.
Dillon Sunnafrank was the story from the beginning for the Wild Things as he made his first professional start. The Wheeling Jesuit product was dominant in his five innings of work, allowing just two hits and two walks with nine strikeouts. The right-hander did not allow a run.
While Sunnafrank was rolling on the mound, the offense did all it needed to to give him some breathing room and set him up for his first professional win. The Wild Things tacked on their first run on the board in the second inning when second baseman Carter McEachern singled home third baseman Mike Hill for the early 1-0 advantage.
Following a duo of scoreless frames, Washington plated three more runs off Windy City (35-50) starter Braulio Torres-Perez. First baseman Reydel Medina drove in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored catcher Chase Simmons. Following that at-bat, right fielder Hector Roa drove in shortstop Ryan Cox with a single, and then Roman Collins crossed home plate on a wild pitch to extend the Washington advantage to 4-0.
After Sunnafrank’s departure, the ThunderBolts’ bats came to life a little as they cut their deficit in half. Reliever Davis Adkins gave up a two-run home run to first baseman Tyler Straub that scored catcher Larry Balkwill. Following those two runs, however, the Wild Things’ bullpen shut down the Windy City offense the rest of the game.
Jesus Balaguer and Zach Strecker combined to pitch the last 3.1 innings and allowed just two hits and a walk combined. Balaguer struck out six batters over his 2.1 innings on the mound.
Washington tacked on two runs of insurance, one in the eighth and one in the ninth, to secure to 6-2 victory. Simmons and Roa both put together three-hit performances on the afternoon, while Roa drove in two runs to extend his team-high total to 65 RBI.
The Wild Things will be back in action Tuesday as it begins a six-game home stand that starts with a three-game set against the Schaumburg Boomers. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
