Shaine Hughes Collects Five Hits, Saige Jenco Homers in Loss to Lake Erie
WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 17) - For the first time in the 2019 campaign, a Wild Thing collected five hits, as Shaine Hughes, the designated hitter, homered and had four singles in his first start for Washington. Despite his effort, as well as a solid effort from outfielder Saige Jenco in his first game of the year off the injured list, the Wild Things lost 8-7 to the Crushers at Wild Things Park.
Lake Erie got the scoring started two batters into the contest with a two-run homer by shortstop Emmanuel Marrero, who ended up having four hits. The Crushers added an unearned run against Washington starter Ty Mondile in the third, after the two teams waited out a 53-minute rain delay in the midst of the second inning.
Jenco hit a two-run home run to center in the bottom of the third to bring Washington within a run, but the Crushers answered with two in the fourth. The Wild Things then received the home run from Hughes in the bottom of the frame, before they scored again on a sacrifice fly by Hector Roa in the fifth.
The visiting Crushers added two runs in the sixth inning and held a 7-4 lead until Washington plated three, highlighted by an RBI base knock from first baseman JJ Fernandez and a two-run double by Roa, in the eighth to tie it.
Zach Strecker came on to pitch the ninth for the home team, and loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batsman. Right fielder Steven Kraft then blooped a single to right to give the Crushers an 8-7 lead they wouldn't let up, despite the Wild Things getting Hughes into scoring position with nobody out in the ninth, representing the game's tying run.
The two teams will lock horns again tomorrow at Wild Things Park on a Souvenir Saturday, where the first 1,000 fans will receive a Wild Things' 2018 East Division Championship Pennant, thanks to Red Roof Inn. First pitch for the middle game of the series is slated for 7:05 p.m. Nick Wegmann will go for Washington and be opposed by Lake Erie's Pat Ledet.
