Wild Things outslug River City
O’FALLON, Mo. – The Washington Wild Things scored four runs in two different innings but still had a close call Wednesday night against the River City Rascals in Frontier League action.
The Wild Things put four up in the second and again in the fifth to outslug the Rascals 10-6 in the second of a three-game series. The win ends a nine-game losing streak by Washington at T.R. Hughes Ballpark.
Dave Popkins’ three-run home run was the key hit in the second inning. Edinson Rincon drove in the first run with a single that scored Sam Mende.
Mende, who went 4-for-5, doubled in two runs in the fifth inning as the Wild Things built a 9-0 lead at the end of the inning.
River City reached Washington starter Luke Wilkins for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The big hit was a three-run home run by Josh Ludy.
Mende singled in C.J. Beatty to make it 10-5 in the sixth but River City answered when Saxon Butler smacked a solo home run.
Washington pounded River City pitching for 14 hits with eight of the nine in the batting order getting at least one. Beatty went 2-for-5 and scored twice and Lee Orr went 1-for-4 and also scored twice.
Three Washington relievers held River City to one run over the last four innings.
Tuesday’s game
Danny Canela had six RBI and Washington gave up five unearned runs as the River City Rascals rallied to defeated the Wild Things, 9-5, Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series.
Washington led 2-0 in the sixth inning before Canela hit a two-run double to tie the score. One inning later, Canela smacked a three-run double off the wall in right field and came around to score on a single that gave the Rascals a 6-2 lead.
The Wild Things pulled to within 6-5 when Sam Mende hit a three-run homer in the eighth. It was one of two home runs by Washington. Lee Orr opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second inning.
River City, however, scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, which included the ejection of Washington manager Bob Bozzuto.