Jun 25, 2015 2 min read

FLORENCE, Ky. – Scott Kalamar went 2-for-4, including a three-run home run in the first inning, to lift Washington over Florence,4-2, Thursday night at UC Health Stadium.

Left-handed starting pitcher Kyle Helisek, a Seneca Valley High School graduate, earned the victory after allowing just one run over six innings while striking out two and walking one. He lowered his ERA to 1.82 this season – fourth-best in the Frontier League – and captured his first win since returning from the disabled list June 18.

Washington (14-22) struck early. Daniel Poma led off the first inning with a walk and scored three batters later on a fielder’s choice by Carter Bell. Five pitches later, Kalamar hit a three-run shot – his second home run since rejoining the Wild Things.

Florence (14-22) got its lone run off Helisek in the bottom of the third when Travis Weaver hit a leadoff double and scored on a fielder’s choice. The Freedom threatened in the seventh inning when Wild Things reliever Tim Giel walked the only two batters he faced, but Richie Mirowski entered the game and got two strikeouts and a flyout to end the inning.

The Freedom cut the deficit to two runs in the eighth when Collins Cuthrell hit an RBI single off reliever Matt Purnell, but Washington closer Jonathan Kountis shut the door in the ninth inning for his first save since rejoining the team. Kyle Carter was the only Freedom player with two hits

Freedom starting pitcher Ryan Davis’ streak of four consecutive victories was snapped after allowing four runs on six hits in five innings. Florence’s three relief pitchers did not allow a hit in the final four innings.