Foster's Gem, Liquori's Big Night Power Washington in Weekend Opener
WASHINGTON, Pa. (Aug. 7) – In his second game back from the injured list and first home game since July 11, All-Star Kobe Foster picked up right where he left off. Foster ended the night completing eight shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in the Wild Things 7-0 victory over the Evansville Otters, which was also highlighted by a big night at the plate from Jeff Liquori for the second night in a row.
Foster’s win makes him 8-2 on the year with a league-best 1.98 earned run average.
An errant pickoff attempt to second base and a walk allowed by Evansville starter Landon Willeman put runners at the corners for Washington. Jeff Liquori stepped up after Anthony Brocato’s walk and blasted a three-run home run over the right field fence to give the Wild Things the early lead.
Behind superb pitching, the Otters and Wild Things combined for just one hit, a Connor Peek infield single, in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Evansville’s David Eckaus and Nolan Thebiay came in to relieve Willeman after 6.2 innings with Isaias Quiroz on first. Washington would take advantage of the pitching changes in the seventh starting with a single and back-to-back walks from Eckaus.
With Thebiay in the game Brocato picked up his second walk of the game to drive in Antonio Monroy, and Liquori drove in his seventh and eighth runs in just two days to score Peek and Andrew Czech, who had also walked with the bases full, earning his 80th RBI of the season to match a career high. The game stood at 7-0 in favor of Washington after seven innings.
Righty Michael O’Hanlon was brought in for the final inning for Washington and allowed no hits to secure the divisional win.
The series continues tomorrow Saturday, August 8 with the first pitch scheduled at 7:05 p.m. EQT Park’s gates will open at 5:45 for Baseball For All Night. The first 1,000 fans will receive a SSF Law Trio Bobblehead courtesy of Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, P.C.
The 24th season of Wild Things baseball in the MLB-partnered Frontier League is underway with more great baseball and entertainment to come. For updates, other information and more, visit washingtonwildthings.com or follow the team on social media at facebook.com/WashingtonWildThings or @WashWildThings on other platforms.
Go Wild at washingtonwildthings.com.
