Washington Gets Tying, Go-Ahead Runs on in 9th, Falls in Finale
EVANSVILLE, In. (August 13) – The Wild Things fought until the end, but ultimately dropped the finale at Evansville and fall back to 6.5 games back of third-place Evansville with 18 games to go in 2023, falling 1-0 to a first-inning run Sunday at Bosse Field.
Dakota Phillips drove in the game’s only run with a single in the first inning against Washington starter Zach Kirby, who settled in well after a three-walk, one-HBP, one-hit first. Kirby logged 5.1 innings of three-hit, one-run ball, and suffered a tough-luck loss to fall to 0-2. Washington has scored one run across Kirby’s last 23.1 innings on the bump.
Evansville starter Zach Smith was great, throwing seven innings and allowing just two hits and four walks. He fanned four in his sixth win of 2023. Kevin Davis and Jake Polancic worked the final two frames, with Polancic earning his 12th save in a shaky ninth.
Washington had chances before but none better than in the ninth as the lead-off man Robert Chayka was hit by a pitch and stole second before Scotty Dubrule walked. Tristan Peterson sacrificed those two 90 feet. Tommy Caufield, hitting for JC Santini, flared a single to right that dropped in front of Jeffrey Baez. On the play, Chayka ran four steps back to third to tag on the ball and that cost him scoring the tying run. Carson Clowers was punched out to end the game after that.
From the pen following Kirby, Stephen Knapp, Matt Dallas and Justin Goossen-Brown combined for 2.2 scoreless.
The loss didn’t impact Washington winning the series, but makes the hunt for the playoffs tougher. The Wild Things now return home for a six-game homestand, which starts Tuesday with the first against the first-place Gateway Grizzlies. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.
