Wild Things lose 4-0 lead, game in ninth inning
The Wild Things blew a 4-0 lead in the ninth inning Friday night and dropped a 5-4 decision to Southern Illinois in a Frontier League game at Rent One Ballpark.
Michael Early hit a grand slam off reliever Jonathan Kountis to tie the game, then Jarrud Sabourin singled in Frank Martinez, who had tripled, with the winning run.
Washington’s collapse ruined a strong effort from starter Tim Flight, who pitched seven shutout innings and struck out five.
Joe Iorio relieved Flight in the eighth inning, then was pulled for Kountis in the ninth after giving up walks to Jon Minucci and Toby DeMello. Adrian English singled to load the bases and Early followed with his grand slam.
One out later, Martinez tripled and Sabourin drove him in to end the game.
Washington scored two in the first, one in the fourth and one in the ninth to build the 4-0 lead. Danny Poma singled to start the game, stole second and came around to score on a groundout by Scott Kalamar. Sam Mende walked and stole second, then came home on a single by Carter Bell.
Bell led off the fourth with a home run to make it 3-0 before C.J. Beatty doubled in Austin Wobrock in the top of the ninth to make it 4-0.