Rain, Miners stop Wild Things
By Chris Dugan
Sports editor
dugan@observer-reporter.com
The Wild Things are still trying for their first series win at Consol Energy Park.
Shortstop Nico Vasquez hit a three-run homer, and Southern Illinois pitchers Adam Lopez and Pete Perez worked out of several jams, as the Miners defeated Washington, 3-2, Thursday night in a game called after six innings because of rain at Consol Energy Park.
Southern Illinois won the final two contests in the three-game series. Washington (12-18) has lost each of its five home series and is 4-11 at CEP.
Southern Illinois was retired in order in the top of the seventh inning, and before the Wild Things could come to bat in the bottom half of the frame heavy rain began falling and play was stopped. Following a delay of 81 minutes, the game was ruled complete.
Vasquez hit his fourth home run of the season with one out in the top of the third inning off Washington starter Kyle Helisek (2-2), who had been activated from the disabled list earlier in the day. Helisek threw five innings, allowing five hits and two walks. He struck out six.
Helisek had been on the DL with a hamstring injury suffering while running several days after pitching eight shutout innings May 28 at River City.
Vasquez’s home run drove in Adrian English and Michael Earley, each of whom had singled. Early had two of the Miners’ five hits. The home run, which cleared all the advertising walls in left field, came one pitch after Vasquez fouled a pitch off his foot, which required the Miners’ trainer to check the injury. After being given the OK to continue, Vasquez turned on a Helisek pitch and delivered the hit that put the Wild Things in comeback mode for the remainder of the night.
Just as in a 2-1 loss Wednesday afternoon to the Miners, Washington had plenty of scoring chances but couldn’t generate a key hit, which has been a troubling trend in home games. Second baseman Sam Mende twice drove in Austin Wobrock for the Wild Things’ only runs. Mende’s single through the left side of the infield scored Wobrock from third base in the bottom of the third inning. In the fifth, Mende hit a sacrifice fly to left field with the bases loaded and one out. Wobrock raced across home plate to make it 3-2, but Lopez struck out Scott Kalamar to end the threat.
The Wild Things also cut short two threats by making four outs at second base.
Catcher John Fidanza singled in the third inning with Wobrock moving from first base to third, but Fidanza was thrown trying to advance behind the play. Later in the inning, Mende attempted to advance when a pitch bounced off catcher Toby DeMello but was thrown out at second base for the final out of the inning. In the sixth, David Popkins walked and was caught stealing, and Danny Poma hit a two-out single but also was thrown out trying to steal. Washington had stolen six bases Wednesday but was 0-for-2 this time with Southern Illinois pitchers making many more throws to first base to keep Washington baserunners close.
Lopez (4-0) allowed seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. It was the first time in five starts that Lopez had yielded more than four hits. Perez got the final two outs and was credited with his second save.
The Wild Things will try for their first home series win this weekend when they host the Frontier Greys, the league’s travel team.
Both teams wore black jerseys. … To make room on the roster for Helisek, the Wild Things traded shortstop Jeudy Valdez to Laredo of the American Association for a player to be named. Valdez was Washington’s second-leading hitter with a .273 batting average and had committed only one error in 19 games. Valdez is in his 10th season of pro ball and had been on the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. He signed with the Wild Things in the offseason but because of visa issues did not join the team until late May. “There was a need in Laredo for a proven shortstop,” Washington manager Bob Bozzuto said. “When you look at the makeup of our team, only one player fit the bill if you were looking to make a trade. Laredo wanted an experienced guy. Their shortstop is done for the year. Jeudy had been in Double-A ball and he’ll be playing with older guys in Laredo. It might be the best thing for his career.”