close

Dynamic duo leads Things

5 min read

C.J. Beatty is finally getting used to Frontier League pitching.

And Shain Stoner is finally getting used to checking the lineup card in the Wild Things’ clubhouse before batting practice each day to see which position he’ll be playing that night.

Beatty and Stoner each are second basemen by trade, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep either of them out of the Wild Things’ lineup, as they proved Sunday night.

Beatty hit his second home run in three days, Stoner had a solo homer among his two hits, and left-handed pitcher Shawn Smith threw a complete game as the Wild Things avoided a series sweep by defeating the Lake Erie Crushers, 6-1, at Consol Energy Park.

Beatty, who has been playing regularly at second base, hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning that gave Washington a 5-1 lead. Two innings later, Stoner, who started in right field, tacked on an insurance run with his homer.

Stoner and Beatty each have four home runs and are tied for the team lead.

Beatty had a good series against the Crushers after seeing his batting average dip nine points on the last road trip.

“I’m starting to get used to the pitching in the league. Some of the guys who played here previously told me at the beginning of the season that Frontier League pitching has a pattern,” Beatty said. “When pitchers get ahead in the count, they usually like to challenge you with offspeed stuff. In affiliated ball, pitchers tend to pitch off their fastball. When I was in a slump, I was getting my one swing at a fastball and missing it or fouling it off. Barry Bonds used to say the best way to hit a curveball is to not miss the fastball.”

Beatty didn’t miss the fastball thrown by Lake Erie reliever Trevor Longfellow in the fourth inning, sending it over the wall in right centerfield and scoring Darian Sandford, who had walked and stolen his league-leading 19th base.

The two-run blast supplied Smith with all the runs he would need. Smith gave up eight hits, but didn’t walk a batter and struck out five. Lake Erie took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on two singles, a hit batsman and Juan Sanchez’s sacrifice fly that scored Emmanuel Quilles.

The Crushers had six hits the rest of the way, but only one runner reached scoring position because of two Washington double plays.

“Smith threw the ball very well. He located three pitches in the strike zone,” Lake Erie manager Jeff Isom said. “He scattered eight hits, but he made pitches when he needed ’em. We couldn’t get runners into scoring position. Smith did a nice job.”

Stoner also has been getting the job done for Washington, and doesn’t matter which job that might be. The versatile Stoner has played all four infield positions and started in left and right field. He doesn’t have a regular position, or a set spot in the batting order, but Stoner hasn’t let the changes hurt his play. He’s hitting .271 after going 2-for-4 Sunday, and he has 12 RBI in only 48 at-bats.

“Shain Stoner is the most valuable utility player in the league,” Washington manager Bart Zeller said. “He can do everything but pitch. I have no worries about putting him anywhere on the field, because he always gives you a solid game defensively, and today he had two hits and put down a perfect sacrifice bunt.

“Playing different positions, it doesn’t seem to bother him. He likes his role. He sees where he’s going to play that day and does his job. It’s nice to have a guy like that.”

The Wild Things took the lead with a three-run third inning against Crushers pitcher Devyn Rivera (0-1), who was making his first start after beginning the season on the disabled list. With Beatty on second base, Jovan Rosa doubled off the wall in center field to tie the score at 1-1. After a Mark Samuelson single, Rogelio Noris worked deep into the count then lined a double down the left-field line, driving in two runs. Though the relay throw beat him to home plate, Samuelson scored when he knocked the ball out of the mitt of Crushers catcher Quilles, who attempted to make a tag.

“The best at-bat of the game was by Noris, fouling off several pitches down the right-field line and then putting one down the left-field line,” Zeller said.

Extra bases

The Wild Things begin a three-game series at Normal Tuesday night, then return home Friday for a nine-game homestand that begins with a series against East Division leader Evansville. … Before the game, Washington released outfielder Nick Akins. He was signed May 30 and batted .235 with three RBI in eight games. The transaction leaves the Wild Things with 22 active players, two under the league limit. Outfielder Gus Benusa (quad muscle) will be eligible to come off the disabled list Wednesday.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today