Cody Erickson's Two-Run Pinch-Hit Single Lifts Washington
TROY, NY (June 27) - The Washington Wild Things salvaged a game in the weekend series with the Valleycats 7-4, thanks in large part due to a pinch-hit, two-run single by Cody Erickson, who celebrated his 27th birthday with the game-winning hit, in the eighth inning Sunday. Washington used the four-run frame to propel itself to victory.
Bralin Jackson started the scoring with his fourth home run of the year, a moon shot to left in the fourth inning before Tri-City got on the board and answered with a three-run fourth of its own, highlighted by a two-run homer off the bat of Carson Maxwell. Joe Campagna's two-run home run (5) tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh before Nelson Molina untied it as the first batter of the bottom half.
That's when the game broke Washington's way. With two outs, Hector Roa at second after a single with one out and Trevor Casanova at first with a walk, Tri-City went to the bullpen to get a lefty to face third baseman Brian Sharp, who had singled and walked as well as flied out in the game. Once the lefty Trevor Damron was in, Wild Things' skipper Tom Vaeth pulled the string to counter with Erickson, who took the first pitch he saw to the right field corner, delivering a two-run hit to give Washington a 5-4 lead. Erickson later scored on a base hit by Connor Perry after going to second on a wild pitch. Perry scored on a three-bases throwing error by Damron on a failed pickoff attempt.
James Meeker pitched a scoreless bottom of the eight before Zach Strecker finished the game, earning his fifth save of the season and the 57th of his career. The save breaks a tie for third place on the all-time career saves leaderboards for the Frontier League, giving Strecker sole possession of third over Bobby Chandler. Next up is second, where former Wild Thing and freshly-minted Frontier League Hall of Famer Jonathan Kountis sits with 59 career saves.
Washington, now 13-16, continues its longest road trip of the season Tuesday with a series opener against the Northeast Division-leading Sussex County Miners. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. from Skylands Stadium in Augusta, New Jersey.
