Wegmann Tosses 7 Shutout Frames, Things Score 6 in 1st to Race to Win
WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 25) - The Washington Wild Things (4-11) forced a rubber gam Sunday versus the Grizzlies behind the best start of 2019 for a pitcher in a Washington uniform and a six-run first inning. Washington defeated Gateway (7-7) Saturday at Wild Things Park, 8-2.
Washington got its best starting pitching performance of the season, as Nick Wegmann took a no hitter into the sixth inning before yielding a lead-off single. In the end, Wegmann tossed seven shutout innings and allowed just the one hit and two walks, while fanning a career-best eight batters, which also matches a season high for Washington pitchers in a single game. Wegmann moved to 1-2 with the win.
The Wild Things jumped on Gateway's starter Thomas Nicoll in the first. Each of the first seven batters reached base and the Wild Things plated six runs in those seven batters. Centerfielder Saige Jenco doubled to lead the game off and came home on Wander Franco's first Wild Things' home run, which made it 2-0. Franco ended up with three hits for his team-leading 7th multi-hit game, and now has six RBI in the series. The next batter, Shaine Hughes was hit by a pitch, and went to third on a single by Hector Roa. Hughes then came home on JJ Fernandez' RBI base knock.
Fernandez and Roa both scores on an RBI double to right by Lucas Herbert, before Herbert came home on a double by catcher Cody Erickson moments later. In the second, Hector Roa tripled for the first time this season and in the process drove in Franco to push the Things' lead to 7-0.
Both teams scored in the eighth, wth Gateway grabbing its only two runs on two RBI singles, and Washington completing the night with a Brett Marr run-scoring knock.
The two teams will play the rubber game of the series tomorrow at Wild Things Park on a Kids Eat Free Sunday presented by PA Cyber. Kids 12 and under get in and eat for free with an activated kids membership card, which are available at the gate, if fans don't already have one. Also, the first 500 kids through the gates will receive a free customized Wild Things' baseball, which is also courtesy of PA Cyber.
First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 5:35 p.m., and is the final game of the opening homestand of 2019 for the Wild Things.
