Three Run Eighth Jolts Washington in Front, Middle Game Secured
FLORENCE, Ky. (Aug. 29) – Behind a three-run eighth, two Anthony Brocato blasts and a record-setting night again for Andrew Czech, Washington took the middle game in Florence 10-7, hanging on to take the series after going ahead late. With the win and a win by Lake Erie at Evansville, the Wild Things now own a Central Division magic number of four.
Washington plated two in the first inning on a passed ball and a sac fly by Czech, which brought in his 100th RBI of his season, continuing to grow on his new single-season record in that department. Florence was able to get a run back on a sac fly of its own in the first, bringing it to 2-1 before Wagner Lagrange went the opposite way for a two-run shot to make it 4-1 in the third.
Florence took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with four, highlighted by Brendan Bobo’s three-run shot off Ben Kowalski and led 5-4 for a small amount of time. Brocato stepped in as the second batter of the fifth with a runner on and belted his 33rd homer of the year, a two-run, line-drive shot to left to make it 6-5. Washington’s lead only lasted until the bottom of the inning when the Y’alls got a two-run shot from Garrett Broussard to take a 7-6 lead. Brocato tied things in the seventh with a missile to left center, his second of the night and 34th of the season. The home run for Brocato puts him two off a tie for the league’s single-season record of 36, done in 1998 by MVP namesake Morgan Burkhart in 80 games.
Ben Kowalski worked five frames and was tagged for seven runs in a no decision. Colt Anderson worked 1.2 scoreless and Mack Anglin 1.1 scoreless, with a huge strikeout to deal out of a bases-loaded jam with the score 7-7 in the seventh. Washington plated three in the eighth, getting two bases-loaded walks and a wild pitch to plate the runs and make it 10-7. Anglin worked the eighth and Landon Ginn the ninth for his 13th save of the season in what was his first opportunity for one since August 12.
With the Central magic number down to four, Washington will look to sweep the Y’alls tomorrow afternoon at 1:07 p.m., sending Kelvin Perez to the mound against Jonaiker Villalobos.
Playoff tickets for the Wild Card round are on sale now by clicking here and are $5 apiece. Washington, if it wins the Central, will host Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12 (if necessary) in the best of three. If they get in as a wild card team, the Wild Things will host Wednesday, September 9.
The team’s $50 pack of six undated regular season ticket vouchers and card for one ticket to every home playoff game is available still for purchase here.
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.
