Lohr 11th-Inning Single, Strong Pitching Lead to Win for Things
FLORENCE, Ky. (August 22) - A two-out, two-strike RBI single by Stephen Lohr in the 11th and a staff-wide strong pitching performance throughout the night netted the Wild Things a series split at Florence, as the Wild Things took the finale Thursday in 11, 3-2.
Former Wild Things' shortstop turned third-year Freedom Austin Wobrock started the scoring for the second-straight night with a two-out RBI single in the second, which scored Isaac Benard, who had been hit by a John Havird pitch earlier in the frame.
It didn't take long for Washington answer, as in the top of the third Drew Bene would lift a sac fly to plate Blake Adams, who had walked to lead the third off against Zak Spivy, Florence's starter.
The scoring would halt until the top of the fifth, when Washington's JR Davis drove home Terrence Pinkston with a single to left field.
John Havird ended up tossing 5.1 innings of one-run ball before being relieved by Jesus Balaguer, who recorded the final two outs of the sixth and stranded the would-be tying run at third in the inning. Spivy ended up yielding the two runs over 6.2 innings in his ninth start of the season.
Florence tied the game with a suicide squeeze bunt by Jackson Pritchard in the eighth before stranding the bases loaded.
It would take extras to find a winner, and Washington scored on a single by Lohr with two outs in the 11th and the international tie-breaker rule in effect, taking a 3-2 lead. Florence loaded the bases in the home half, but was unable to score, and the Wild Things hung on.
Zach Strecker, with three scoreless, picked up the win. Karl Cragie took the loss.
The Wild Things now return home for the final homestand and series of the 2019 season. They'll host the Southern Illinois Miners with a continued opportunity to effect the playoff race in the Frontier League. First pitch against the Miners Friday is slated for 7:05 p.m.
