Wild Things Clinch Playoff Berth Despite Middle Game Loss
SCHAUMBURG, Il. (August 24) – The Wild Things clinched a playoff spot Wednesday despite a 6-5 loss to the Schaumburg Boomers Wednesday night. The loss is only the third all season that comes after Washington was leading after seven innings.
Washington scored first by plating three runs in the first inning, the first two of which came in on a two-run triple up the third-base line by catcher Cam Balego, who was the offensive star of the night. Balego came in on an RBI knock by Ian Walters to close the scoring in the frame. The Wild Things added a run in the third on an RBI single by Wagner Lagrange that scored Scotty Dubrule and made it 4-0.
Rob Whalen started and set down the first 10 he faced before the Boomers got one in the fourth on an RBI double by Chase Dawson. The Boomers chased Whalen from the game with a three-run, two-hit fifth. Mike Hart tripled with the bases loaded to tie the game but Whalen managed to get out of dodge with the score at 4-4.
Balego came up with one out in the sixth and belted his third homer as a Wild Thing to left to give Washington a 5-4 lead and the lead back, for that matter. The homer put Balego a double shy of the cycle.
Dan Kubiuk put two zeroes on the board with three strikeouts in his outing that lasted two innings. Kenny Pierson didn’t have such success in the eighth. His 14.2-inning scoreless streak was snapped at the hands of the Boomers. Clint Hardy’s sac fly to right tied the game and Wyatt Stapp’s run-scoring single gave Schaumburg the 6-5 lead it did not let go of.
The series concludes tomorrow at Wintrust Field when the Boomers and Wild Things meet at 7:30/6:30 p.m. CT. Washington can clinch the West Division crown with a win tomorrow night and a loss by Evansville in its series with Joliet.
