Washingtons Wins Game One, Drops Game Two in Twinbill
July 23, 2021 - Frontier League (FL)
Washington Wild Things News Release
POMONA, NY - The Wild Things earned a comeback victory and their fourth-straight win over the New York Boulders in game one of Friday's doubleheader by a final of 6-3.
The scoring started quickly for New York in the bottom of the first when Zach Kirtley lifted his sixth home run of the season to left center to make it 2-0 New York in the seven-inning affair. The game stayed that way until the third inning when Joe Campagna, who was activated from the injured list earlier in the day, hit his sixth home run of the season in his first action since June 27. That made it 2-1.
Campagna would continue to make an impact with two in scoring position in the top of the fifth, as he lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right that allowed both runners to advance with the lead runner Hector Roa scoring to tie the game at two apiece. Trevor Casanova, who had advanced to third on the Campagna fly ball, scored on a dobuble by Andrew Czech to give the Wild Things a 3-2 lead that turned out to be short-lived. New York's Kevonte Mitchell drew a bases-loaded walk, the third issued to the Boulders in their half of the fifth, to tie the game.
The tie didn't last long, however. After Grant Heyman was hit by a pitch, Roa lifted his seventh home run of the season the opposite way to right to give Washington a 5-3 lead.
After getting Washington out of the fifth with no more damage, Alex Boshers picked up his first win and pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Washington added a run on an error in the seventh inning. Zach Strecker eaarned his 10th save of the year in the bottom half, which is also the 62nd of his career.
New York came back like the Wild Things did in game one to win the second game of Friday's twinbill at Palisades Credit Union Park. For the second time this season, New York walked off Washington at home, returning the favor from the finale in Washington's previous series with the Boulders.
Washington got on the board in the first inning of the second game. Nick Ward reached on an error to start the ballgame before Andrew Sohn worked a walk. Those two executed a double steal before Scotty Dubrule grounded out to second to plate the first run of the nightcap.
Ben Vicini, who made the start for Washington, did not allow a hit, struck out three, walked one and hit one through his first five innings of work in the contest before allowing a double to Phil Caulfield, who led off the sixth. On that double, right fielder Bralin Jackson leapt and crashed against the right-centerfield wall trying to haul it in and got a glove on it.
James Meeker entered and after an infield single by Milton Smith Jr. that followed a fly out, a pickoff throw got away at first and allowed the tying run to score, unearned against Vicini.
Ray Hernandez' walk-off home run, which is his league-leading 15th homer of the year, gave the Boulders the victory in the nightcap.
The Boulders and Wild Things will continue the series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Frontier League Stories from July 23, 2021
- Otters Outslugged by Grizzlies in Series Opener - Evansville Otters
- Miners Blanked by ThunderBolts - Southern Illinois Miners
- Crushers Drop Game One - Lake Erie Crushers
- Washingtons Wins Game One, Drops Game Two in Twinbill - Washington Wild Things
- Boomers Rally Past Lake Erie - Schaumburg Boomers
- Y'alls Squeak out Victory over Slammers - Florence Y'alls
- Hernandez Homer Gives Boulders Split With Wild Things - New York Boulders
- ValleyCats Begin Crowded Weekend with Doubleheader Split - Tri-City ValleyCats
- Bosse Field to Host Lilly King Watch Party Monday - Evansville Otters
- Boulders Complete Jackals Sweep - New York Boulders
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