Whalen, Pilarski, Young Lead Way to Pitchers' Duel Win
JOLIET, Il. (June 3) – In a pitchers' duel, the Washington Wild Things took the series opener in their first game against Joliet since 2019, 2-1. It was two, second-inning runs and the combined efforts of Rob Whalen, Jake Pilarski and Lukas Young that led the club to its 12th win of the year.
The Wild Things got the scoring going in the second against Joliet starter Logan Schmitt, who was making his pro debut in the series opener. After a two-out double by Hector Roa, Ian Walters drove in Roa with a single and advanced to second on the throw home, only to be brought in by a single by LG Castillo to make it 2-0.
Rob Whalen stranded a few baserunners in the first before working one-two-three second and third innings. Brylie Ware hit his first homer of the year off Whalen in the fourth to cut the lead to 2-1 but Whalen picked up the strong start again after that and ended up fanning eight to tie a season-high for him over seven innings of work. He allowed just three hits and the one run and walked two.
Things settled down for Schmitt too, who ended up with 6.1 innings in his pro debut. He allowed seven hits and the two, second-inning tallies. Schmitt, a former Miami (OH) and St. Louis University pitcher, struck out two.
Jake Pilarski came on to work the eighth and struck out a batter in a clean frame before Lukas Young came on to close the door in the ninth. The save was Young’s third of the trip and his fourth this season. It got the win for Whalen, his fourth.
The Wild Things will meet the Joliet Slammers tomorrow in the middle game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05/6:05 p.m. CT.
