jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
You don't need a chalkboard, slide rule, pocket calculator or sundial to figure out the odds of the Washington Wild Things making the playoffs.
They aren't good.
All you need to know is that each loss brings the players perilously close to the playoff abyss in the Frontier League. Washington took two steps towards not having a reservation for the postseason Thursday night.
The hope that blossomed from an unbelievable comeback in a 14-13 victory over Kalamazoo Tuesday, was derailed in a doubleheader loss against the Kings at Consol Energy Park last night.
How rare is a doubleheader sweep in this league, which requires each game shortened to seven innings for time consideration?
"It's next to impossible," said Kalamazoo manager Fran Riordan. "I don't remember sweeping a doubleheader in my managerial career."
The impossible seems to be a regular occurrence at Consol as the Kings dealt a 1-2 punch to the Wild Things, winning the first game 5-3 and blowing past them in the second, 8-3.
As if to make the night more miserable, a steady drizzle soaked the crowd of 2,360, most of whom had reached home long before the final out was made.
The two losses drop the Wild Things' record to 44-46, and left them four games out of the final playoff spot because Rockford (48-42) defeated Evansville, 7-5.
So maybe Washington manager Greg Jelks put it best between games when he said, "If we don't win (the second game), it's over."
The Kings received strong pitching from both starters. Joe DiPietro went 6 2/3 innings in the opener to move his record to 7-5. Jeff Long (9-4) gave up just two runs in seven innings in the second game and struck out seven.
The Kings' Brendan Murphy drove in three runs in the first game, knocking in Jeff Grose each time. Simon Williams had a three-run home run in the second and finished with four RBI.
Chris Sidick smacked his 10th home run of the season and Jacob Dempsey had an RBI-triple in the first game for Washington. Josh Eacheus' two-run single in the seventh inning of the second game made the final score closer for the Wild Things.
"We just have to keep moving forward," said Dempsey. "We have six games left. It's tough. But anything could happen. We could win six straight and the teams in front of us could lose six straight. You just don't know. I've seen it happen in the pros."
The Wild Things fell behind early in the first game, thanks to some unfortunate bounces and some poor play.
Kalamazoo jumped out to a 2-0 lead against starter Brooks Dunn in the first inning on two bad-bounce singles and a liner just over the head of Washington shortstop Brett Grandstrand.
"That's the way it's gone for us all year," said Jelks. "There aren't many breaks for us. (Dunn) made some good pitches. But unfortunately, they bounced a ball off the plate and over our third baseman's head. It seems like it's been that way all year long."
Kalamazoo broke a 2-2 in the fourth when Brad Arnett dropped a Williams' fly ball in right field for a three-base error. Williams came home on a sacrifice fly. Murphy would knock in a run in the fifth and seventh.
A chance for Washington to win the second game evaporated when Kalamazoo scored seven runs in the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie. The big blast came from Williams, who cracked a three-run home run over the left field fence.
J.J. Hollenbeck (5-6) took the brunt of the Kings' offensive output. He gave up seven runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.