Expect runs in Wild Things’ playoff game
Rarely is there a sure thing in playoff baseball, but nobody is hedging their bet against the Wild Things and River City Rascals playing another 2-1 extra-inning nail-biter tonight (8:05 p.m.) in Game 2 of the best-of-3 Frontier League semifinals.
The pitching could be as good as in Game 1 Monday night at Consol Energy Park – River City won with Saxon Butler’s solo home run leading off the 12th inning – but runs will likely be easier to produce. That’s because Game 2 is being played in O’Fallon, Mo., at a hitter’s haven known as T.R. Hughes Ballpark.
With its grass infield that River City manager Steve Brook describes as “lightning quick” and 40-foot high “Big Dog Wall” in right field that is only 299 feet from home plate in the corner, and an outfield wall that drops to four feet high in right centerfield, T.R. Hughes Ballpark will make batting averages and pitching ERAs soar.
“If you don’t strike out, then you’re going to find hits at T.R. Hughes,” River City manager Steve Brook said. “The infield is so fast, and the wind usually blows out in the early summer and fall. It’s a big-time offensive ballpark.”
So expect more offense in Game 2. The starting pitchers in charge of minimizing the production will be Washington’s Scott Dunn (8-5, 3.28) and River City’s Kyle Brady (2-3, 4.97). Game 3, if necessary, will be Thursday at River City, the West Division champion.
“The ballpark is small,” Washington manager Bob Bozzuto said. “It has a Green Monster-like wall in right field and the ball travels well there. You have to be able to pitch there. You have to be able to minimize the damage.”
Both pitching staffs did that for much of Game 1. Washington starter Troy Marks threw 7 1/3 shutout innings. The Rascals scored the game’s first run in the ninth inning on a one-out wild pitch, but relievers Al Yevoli, Jonathan Kountis and Matt Purnell each pitched out of late-inning jams.
Six River City pitchers combined on a seven-hitter. The Wild Things forced extra innings by scoring their only run when they were down to their final out in the bottom of the ninth. Carter Bell’s two-out single to center field scored Danny Poma from third base.
After the solo home run by Butler, Washington had a chance to tie or win in the bottom of the 12th, loading the bases with one out on a walk to Maxx Garrett and consecutive singles by Andrew Heck and Ryan Kresky. But Rascals relievers Trey Lambert and Chandler Jagodzinski each struck out a batter to end the game and put Washington on the brink of elimination.
“We couldn’t get a timely hit. You don’t win many games when you get one run,” Bozzuto said. “In the 12th, we didn’t get a timely hit or even a fly ball. The things you work on all year, they come back to haunt you when you don’t do ’em.”
Fly balls often become home runs at T.R. Hughes. Its cozy confines helped the Rascals lead the league in runs and finish second in batting average and home runs. Playing in a hitter’s ballpark might be what Washington needs. The Wild Things have struggled to score at home recently, generating only one run in their last 23 innings at CEP.
The Wild Things will have to do better in the late innings against River City setup relief pitchers Patrick Crider and Nick Kennedy. Each has an ERA under 2.50 and they combined for three scoreless innings with four strikeouts in Game 1.
“Because of our ballpark, we try to sign guys who are strikeout pitchers,” Brook said. “We can’t sign a contact pitcher unless he has tremendous sink on his pitches.”
T.R. Hughes has not been kind to Washington. The Wild Things have lost seven games in a row at River City, including three last month.
“Compared to when we were at River City the last time, we’re healthy,” Bozzuto said. “We didn’t have Carter Bell and Danny Poma in that series and Jim Vahalik got hurt in the first game. We had to get healthy for the next series at Gateway.”
Washington has won five of its last six road playoff games dating back to 2007. … Despite being the top seed in the playoffs, River City did not have a player on the league’s end-of-season all-star team. “It’s always nice to be recognized by your peers, but that tends not to happen for us,” Brook said. “I’d rather win a championship or have guys picked up (by major league affiliates) than win Manager of the Year.”