Florence Takes Series Opener Behind Early Big Innings
WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 23) – The Washington Wild Things lost their third game out of the last four on Tuesday, falling 12-1 to the Florence Y’alls in the opening game of a six-game homestand at Wild Things Park.
Justin Showalter struggled on the bump and was given the loss in his second start of the season Tuesday, allowing nine hits, eight earned runs, while recording two strikeouts in four innings pitched. On the other hand, Florence starter Edgar Martinez had a fine day with a win and was complemented by his team’s bats. Martinez allowed only four hits, one earned run, walked five, and had four strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched.
No runs were scored in the first inning as the Washington’s (6-4) defense worked alongside Showalter going into the top of the second, which was capped off with a swinging strikeout. Washington was unable to score any runs however entering the third inning. Florence (5-5) right fielder Sam Plash recorded the first hit of the game for either squad in the third inning, with a long double into left field, before a walk and a fielder’s choice loaded the bases. Florence converted the three baserunners into a lead in the third, with three-straight RBI singles from first baseman Craig Massey, whose base hit scored two, designated hitter Brennan Price and second baseman Ray Zuberer, which was the first four-run frame that put the Y’alls ahead 4-0.
The Y’all’s continued to roll in the fourth, with designated hitter Brennan Price crushing a three-run home run to cap off back-to-back four-run frames.
The Wild Things scored in the bottom half of the fourth inning, scoring a run off a double from catcher Melvin Novoa to make it 8-1, but left two runners stranded in scoring position. Three-straight Washington errors and a fielder’s choice allowed two more runs to cross the plate for Florence in the next inning, which gave the Y’alls a 10-1 lead in the fifth. The next hit for Washington came in the bottom of the sixth, with Novoa hitting his second double of the night into deep left-center field.
Plash got another hit in the next inning, mashing a solo-home run to add to his double and single on the night, which put Florence ahead 11-1. A sacrifice fly in the eighth from third baseman Andres Rios added another run for the Y’alls, and the Wild Things were unable to score in the final five innings of the 12-1 series-opening loss.
Washington takes the loss into its next game against the Y’alls, the second of three games against Florence on Wednesday, which is Senior Slugger Wednesday at Wild Things Park, presented by AARP Pennsylvania. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.
