Wild Things Open Exhibition Play in Florence
FLORENCE, Ky. (April 29) - The Wild Things traveled to Florence, Kentucky, to play their first exhibition game of spring training for the 2025 season. Five pitchers worked scoreless outings while the offense, after being quiet the first time through, heated up to plate six runs in their final seven turns to the plate.
Florence tagged Zach Kirby for a pair of runs in the first of his two innings of work, but Kirby bounced back to grab a double play ball and a groundout in a scoreless second. He gave way to Ivan Oviedo, who struggled a bit with command and allowed two homers in his inning and change.
The first time through the order was a battle for timing for the Washington hitters, as only two of the first 12 batters to step up reached base: a Willie Estrada single and a walk drawn by Sammy Infante.
Edwar Polimir relieved Oviedo in the fourth and surrendered a hit and a walk before rolling a twin killing and getting a fly out to end the frame. He struck a batter out before Jommer Hernandez caught a runner trying to steal to end the fifth.
The Wild Things got a two-run homer from Andy Blake in the fourth before loading the bases with two outs on walks. The inning was rolled over to save pitches and with it, the threat ended. Brett Roberts scored on a wild pitch and Ethan Wilder singled home a run in the fifth inning for Washington. The pitchers worked scoreless ball from there. Jeff Liquori hit a sac fly in the seventh to plate Jarrett BUrney and Jake DeLeo grounded home a run as the teams played a top of the 10th.
Albert Cuello-Batista, Santiago Florez, Jacob McCaskey and Nick McClanahan finished the game and combined to fan six batters. Estrada finished 1-for-3 while Jeff Liquori was hit by a pitch, had the sac fly, doubled and scored twice. Sammy Infante had two hits, a walk and a stolen base. Roberts had a walk and a single plus a bag in the effort.
The Wild Things will return home for back-to-back day game exhibitions against the Black Sox (Wednesday) and the Y'alls (Thursday) at 10:35 a.m. Neither game is open to the general public. Tickets for the two home exhibition games are on sale now. The club plays Lake Erie at EQT Park Sunday at 3:05 p.m. with tickets available here. Ottawa visits the ballpark Wednesday, May 7 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for that game are available here. Both of those games are free admission but you must reserve seats.
