Wild Things Split Exhibition Doubleheader With Crushers

Sunday, May 4, 2025
By Kyle Dawson
Wild Things Split Exhibition Doubleheader With Crushers

WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 4) - The Washington Wild Things split Sunday's exhibition doubleheader with Lake Erie, with several bright spots on the league's cut-down day. 

In the first game, Washington struggled to break through offensively in the first four innings against ex-big leaguer Brandyn Sittinger and Jack Eisenbarger, managing a Tyreque Reed double, a base hit by Wagner Lagrange and free passes issued to Brett Roberts and Reed (HBP), before managing to plate a run on a ground out by Andy Blake in the fifth inning that scored Tommy Caufield against Anthony Escobar. Caufield had doubled and went to third on a ground out by Willie Estrada. The Things then grabbed a run on an RBI single by Lagrange in the sixth inning, scoring Reed, who doubled for a second time in the game with one out in the frame. In the seventh, Jeff Liquori doubled home a pair, plating Brett Roberts (double) and Blake (single). 

On the mound, Jake Carroll worked a one-two-three fifth before walking the lone batter he faced in the sixth inning. That runner came in on a two-run homer by Jarrod Watkins for the Crushers, one of three homers by Lake Erie in the game. Two came off Ivan Oviedo in his three innings of work, but Oviedo did punch out four in his outing. Hector Garcia ended up pitching two innings and allowed a run on two hits with three strikeouts. 

That effort gave way to the second game, in which the two played 7.5 innings. Zach Kirby started the game and surrendered a fourth-inning solo homer for one of the two hits he scattered over four frames. He struck out one. Edwar Polimir put up a zero in the fifth around a single and struck a batter out. Albert Cuello-Batista worked a perfect sixth with a punchout, Joelvis Del Rosario a perfect seventh with a strikeout and Brent Francisco a perfect top of the eighth with a strikeout. 

The outing was a bit better offensively, as seven of 10 Washington hatters managed at least a hit, with Caufield's two-hit effort leading the charge. Caufield homered to right center in the sixth for a solo shot and had singled in the fourth. The first three runs of the game for Washington came in during the fifth inning, when Sammy Infante hit a two-run homer and Brett Roberts brought home a tally with a base hit scoring Kadon Morton, who had walked. Caufield's homer was the fourth run and Morton later singled in Blake, who had doubled on a soft liner to left. 

After the game, Washington, as all other teams in the league yesterday had to, was forced to get down to 28 or fewer players on the active roster. The following players were released: OF Kadon Morton, IF Andy Blake, RHP Jason Hughes, LHP Edwar Polimir and C Jake Sisto. Saturday night, RHP Santiago Florez was traded to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (ATLL) for future considerations. 

The Wild Things active roster stands at 27, with a need to be at 24 OR 25 by Wednesday. Teams in the league this season are allowed to carry a 25th player through June 3 if they so choose to do so. 

Close menu