Wild Things Take Series Opener, Win 5th Straight
TROY, NY. (May 19) – The Washington Wild Things earned a fifth-consecutive victory and moved to 6-1 on the year with a 9-6 victory at Joseph L Bruno Stadium in Troy, New York Friday night. Fueled by a go-ahead RBI single by Harrison Ray in the top of the eighth and a great relief performance by Stephen Knapp, Washington took the first game in Troy against the ValleyCats since 2021.
Tri-City started the scoring in the first after Washington was retired in order in the top half. A double-play ball off the bat of Trey Hair plated the game’s first run before Washington scored four times in the second. Melvin Novoa led off the frame with his first homer of the season, Anthony Brocato doubled home Andrew Czech and Ian Walters hit a two-run home run, his first longball of the year, making it 4-1.
The lead didn’t last long, as Tri-City plated four against Angel Landazuri in the third, highlighted by a two-run double by Zach Biermann and RBI hits from Hair and Jakob Goldfarb. Trailing 5-4, Washington tied the game in the next half on an RBI double by shortstop Nick Gotta, but Tri-City got the run right back in the home fourth with an RBI single by Carson McCusker, on which an inherited runner of Landazuri’s scored with Knapp on the hill.
Knapp would pitch the next three innings and not allow a run, while also getting a home run from Wagner Lagrange in the fifth that tied the game at 6-6. Knapp earned the win, his first of 2023, with 3.2 scoreless innings of two-hit ball. He fanned two and walked two in the outing. Landazuri got a no decision after being charged with 10 hits and six earned over 3.1 innings in his start.
That brought the game to the eighth, where Washington scored three times. Harrison Ray lined a single to left to plate Anthony Brocato to give Washington a 7-6 lead that grew on the same play with a throwing error by the Tri-City catcher trying to get Ian Walters at third. The ball went into left field, allowed Walters to scamper home and Ray to move to third. Ray scored on an RBI knock from Gotta a batter later, making it 9-6.
Andrew Mitchell and Lukas Young combined to finish the night, with Young earning his first save of the season.
The middle game of the series is set for tomorrow night at 6:30 from Troy. Spencer Johnston (1-0, 1.80 ERA) will start for Washington against Rafi Vazquez (0-0, 1.29 ERA) for Tri-City. Watch the game on FloSports (subscription required) or listen for free on Mixlr at bit.ly/wtmixlr or the Mixlr app by following @WashWildThings.
