Back-and-Forth Finale Goes to Y'alls, Ray Has Good Night
WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 25) – The Washington Wild Things lost 9-8 to the Florence Y’alls in a back-and-forth game all night at the plate. Pitching would end up being a non-factor in this game as runs came frequently for both teams.
On the bump, Stephen Knapp would make his first start of the year for the Wild Things. Knapp would only make it through 3.1 innings. He gave up eight hits, two walks, and six earned runs. The bullpen would redeem itself a bit on Thursday as they combined for five strikeouts across 5.2 innings while allowing three earned runs, five walks, and three hits, but did surrender the winning runs for the Y’alls.
To start this game off, the Y’alls struck first when Ray Zuberer III hit a grand slam over the right field fence with no outs to put the Wild Things down early 4-0 in the first inning.
Although down 5-0 entering the bottom of the second, the Wild Things added a run in the second and exploded in the third inning, scoring four runs while capitalizing on two errors by the Y’alls defense. First baseman Tristan Peterson sparked the offense by hitting an RBI single. Then right fielder Anthony Brocato hit a hard ground out to score another. Ian Walters hit an RBI double down the right field line to score Andrew Czech who was on third base to add another. Then J.C. Santini hit a sac fly to deep center field to score Ian Walters. The Wild Things animated offense tied the game at 5-5.
The Y’alls would answer back as center fielder Cole Brannen hit a solo shot over the right center field scoreboard to break the tie and give the Y’alls the lead in the fourth inning against Knapp. Although Zach Blakenship was looking solid, he loaded the bases and the Y’alls would add another run in the bottom of the fifth on a fielder's choice by Andres Rios.
At the plate, Harrison Ray would not be done producing runs for the Wild Things as he hit an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. He had driven the first Washington run in with a sac fly in the second. The Wild Things would crack Dougherty and continue their exciting night at the plate. After stringing together a couple of hits, Andrew Czech hit a sacrifice fly to score a man from third and tie the game at 7-7. The Wild Things would get back to slashing at the plate as Harrison Ray would hit a double to start off the bottom of the seventh and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nick Gotta to deep center field. That gave the club its first lead of the night at 8-7, but it didn’t last.
Florence’s Craig Massey hit a double down the left field line to drive in two runs and give the Y’alls the 9-8 lead in the very next half inning, the top of the eighth.
The Wild Things offense that had been hot all night would be neutralized and didn’t score despite two runners in the eighth and one before a caught stealing in the ninth.
Washington takes the series sweep into their Friday matchup against the Tri-City ValleyCats, which is Fireworks Friday at Wild Things Park, presented by North Franklin Township. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
