Herald drives Wild Things to historic win
A little-known rookie helped the Wild Things make history Saturday night.
Outfielder Cody Herald, a Butler High School and Seton Hill graduate who was signed last month, drove in four runs to help Washington defeat Evansville, 7-2, at Consol Energy Park for the 700th win in franchise history, which snapped a six-game losing streak.
Only three other Frontier League teams – Evansville, Gateway and River City – reached the 700-win plateau. The Wild Things’ career mark now sits at 700-612 and the victory helped them avoid being eliminated from the playoffs.
Herald went 2-for-4, breaking a 0-17 drought, and stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning, hitting hit a three-run double and he added an RBI double in the third. Trailing 1-0, the Wild Things (39-50) batted through the order in the second and Daniel Poma’s single loaded the bases for Herald, who hit only his second career double to clear the bases. Poma, who also went 2-for-4, hit a two-out single in the third inning and Herald hit the first pitch of the next at bat for an RBI double. He came around to score after stealing third and Evansville catcher JD Dorgan committed an error, giving Washington a 6-1 lead.
Evansville (47-42), which is fighting for a playoff spot after being forced to vacate 10 wins earlier in the week, drew to within four runs in the sixth when John Schultz, who hit a lead-off double, scored after a sacrifice fly by Dane Phillips.
Washington responded quickly when catcher Max Garrett hit a solo home run to help starting pitcher Matt Fraudin (3-2), an Upper St. Clair graduate, secure the win. Fraudin pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits while striking out four and walking one.
Steve Messner closed out the game, allowing no hits and striking out three. Otters starter Trevor Walch (8-7) was tagged for seven runs, six earned, on eight hits.
Evansville took the 1-0 lead in the first inning when Chris Sweeney, who hit a ground-rule double, scored on a fielder’s choice.
The Wild Things’ bottom-three hitters in the order – Herald, Poma and Garrett – went a combined 6-for-12 with five runs and five RBI.