Things lose in 19 innings
CRESTWOOD, Ill. – Jovan Rosa drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the seventh inning and the Wild Things went to defeat the Windy City ThunderBolts, 5-3, in the nightcap of a long Frontier League doubleheader Sunday at Standard Bank Stadium.
In the opener, which was the completion of a game suspended Saturday because of rain, Andrew Brauer hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 19th inning to give Windy City a 4-3 victory in the longest game in Wild Things history.
The game was resumed in the fourth inning and lasted five hours and 53 minutes.
Washington led 3-1 when the game resumed, but Windy City scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the score at 3-3.
After that, it became a battle of the bullpens.
Michael Click, Andy Mee and winning pitcher Tyler Claburn combined to throw 13 scoreless innings of relief for the ThunderBolts, scattering eight hits and striking out 12 batters.
Gary Lee allowed two runs for Washington in 7 1/3 innings before being relieved by Matt Phillips, who pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings.
Losing pitcher William Scott went 4 1/3 innings before Brauer’s first homer of the season ended the game.
Rosa went 5-for-7 and tied the Wild Things’ record for hits in a game.
Rosa broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning of the second game as his double scored Gus Benusa from first base. Rosa then scored an insurance run on a passed ball.
Orlando Santos (1-1) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the win. Anthony Collazo made his first start of the season and gave up two hits and one run over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out nine.
Collazo left with a 3-0 lead, but Windy City tied the score on four consecutive two-out hits in the fifth inning.
Stewart Ijames was 3-for-3 with three doubles and two RBI for Washington, and Rosa went 4-for-4 to finish the doubleheader 9-for-11.
The Wild Things (10-5), who are in first place in the East Division, have played 12 of their first 15 games on the road. They begin a six-game homestand Tuesday against the Greys, the Frontier League’s travel team.