Pitcher's Duel Goes to Evansville in Middle Game
WASHINGTON, Pa. (August 19) – The Washington pitchers, along with the Otters’ arms, were excellent in a middle game that didn’t see much offense. Evansville took it 2-1, putting Washington’s playoff hopes on life support.
Zach Kirby threw six innings of two-run ball and allowed five hits with a new career-best eight strikeouts in a tough-luck loss. The outing was Kirby’s third quality start in his last four and six overall. He’s received exactly two runs of support in his last 29.1 innings on the mound.
Evansville got a run in the third on an RBI single by George Callil and another in the fifth on a solo homer by Ethan Skender. That support was enough for the combination of starter Braden Scott, Kevin Davis and Jake Polancic, as the trio combined to allow just four Washington hits, the first of which was Anthony Brocato’s 26th homer of 2023 that led off the game. Scott tossed seven innings of one-run ball and allowed all four knocks with eight strikeouts of his own. Polancic earned his 14th save of the year with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Christian James struck out two in a clean inning. He, Justin Goossen-Brown and Lukas Young all recorded a scoreless, one-two-three frame in relief of Kirby. The only runs Washington’s pen has allowed since Friday, August 12 are the three in the eighth last night in the series opener.
The Wild Things are now 6.5 games back of third-place Evansville with 13 to play. The Otters have 14 games left. Those totals include tomorrow’s rubber game, which is slated to get going at 5:35 p.m. in Washington. It’s Toy and Game Night presented by Bethel Bakery on a Kids Eat Free Sunday. Tickets are available for the remaining seven home games on the 2023 slate at www.tickets.washingtonwildthings.com or by calling the box office at 724-250-9555.
