Jun 15, 2013 5 min read

Apparently, Andrew Clark doesn’t get the free steak, but the Evansville first baseman and his teammates will gladly take the victory that assures the Otters will leave Washington in sole possession of first place in the Frontier League’s East Division.

Clark hit a two-run homer that capped Evansville’s three-run fourth inning and that was enough for starter Rich Hawkins and two relievers, who combined on a six-hit shutout, as the Otters blanked the Wild Things, 3-0, Saturday night at Consol Energy Park.

The win moved Evansville’s lead back to two games over Washington heading into the series finale this afternoon (5:05 p.m.).

Clark has been the league’s hottest hitter, with a .439 batting average that actually dropped five points after a 1-for-3 night.

“I’ve always had good starts to seasons,” said Clark, who had his contract purchased by the Chicago White Sox after four games this year but failed the team’s physical because of a bone spur in his left (throwing) shoulder. He returned to the Otters and has been feasting on Frontier League pitching, hitting five home runs in his last 12 games.

Clark’s one hit Saturday gave Evansville some margin for error. His two-run blast with one out in the fourth also scored left fielder Nick Schwaner, who had given the Otters a 1-0 lead by driving in C.J. Henry from second base with a single. Henry started the game’s key three at-bat sequence with a double.

“One bad inning,” Washington manager Bart Zeller said. “We stopped doing what we had done successfully earlier in the game and started trying to trick people.”

Clark’s home run, off Washington starter Shawn Blackwell (2-3), hit the Bistecca Steakhouse sign next to the videoboard in right centerfield. If a Wild Things player hits the sign with a home run, then he gets a free steak at the restaurant, located at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino. If a visiting player hits the sign, well, he only gets a few handshakes from his teammates for a job well-done.

“What? I don’t get the free steak?” Clark asked after the game. “One of the umpires said I still got the steak. Oh, well.”

Blackwell and relievers Al Yevoli and Orlando Santos matched Evansville’s pitching by combining on a six-hitter. But the difference in the game was that Evansville stacked three consecutive hits in the fourth inning. Washington, meanwhile, scattered its hits and was unable to take advantage of scoring opportunities early in the game.

Washington stranded two baserunners in each of the first two innings, and couldn’t turn three doubles later in the game into runs.

“In this league, pitchers get stronger in the third, fourth, fifth innings. Then start building confidence. You have to get to them early while they might be doubting themselves,” Zeller said.

Hawkins (1-1) pitched six shutout innings. Reliever Scott Weismann followed and was impressive, striking out five of the six batters he faced. Closer Eric Massingham allowed a hit and a walk but secured his sixth save of the season and 49th of his career, which ties him for second place on the Frontier League’s all-time list.

Henry, Evansville’s right fielder who lost a fly ball in the lights Friday night, took an extra-base hit away from Rogelio Noris to start the bottom of the sixth. Henry caught Noris’ long drive while crashing into the wall.

“They spanked the ball when they needed to, and their guy (Henry) made a great catch in right centerfield. That catch gave them some momentum,” Zeller said. “If that ball falls, then we have the start of something going.”

Blackwell gave up six hits and two walks. He was sensational for stretches, retiring the first 10 batters he faced with the help of a double-play grounder. He also retired 11 of the last 14 hitters he faced.

“We have to come back and win the series,” Zeller said.

Prior to the game, Washington signed outfielder Scott Kalamar, a rookie from Seton Hall University. Kalamar was team captain of the Pirates this spring and batted .299 with 13 doubles and 23 stolen bases. He is a Pennsylvania native and played at Liberty High School in Bethlehem. He made his pro debut as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning and drew a four-pitch walk. … Evansville is 14-1 when scoring the first run of a game. … Henry, who began Saturday eighth in the league in batting (.341), is a former first-round draft pick of the New York Yankees. Henry was the 17th pick in the 2005 draft – six picks after the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Andrew McCutchen – and was included in a trade with Philadelphia that also involved veteran major leaguer Bobby Abreau. After being released by Philadelphia, Henry played college basketball at both Memphis and Kansas. His brother, Xavier Henry, plays in the NBA for New Orleans.