Vazquez, Slammers hammer Wild Things
Washington’s David Popkins, sliding, and Nick Ferdinand race back to their bases after a pop-up was caught in the outfield during a game against Joliet Tuesday at Consol Energy Park.
Wild Things relief pitcher Devon Davis delivers in the sixth inning against Joliet at Consol Energy Park Tuesday.
Teams hovering around the .500 mark usually find momentum to be an elusive concept. The Wild Things proved as much Tuesday night in their series opener against the Joliet Slammers.
Fresh off their first series sweep of the season, a three-game weekend set at Lake Erie punctuated by Washington home runs, the Wild Things’ bats fell silent against Joliet right-handed starting pitcher Kaleb Ort, who began the night with a less-than-imposing 7.65 ERA.
To make matters worse, the Wild Things’ pitchers had all kinds of trouble getting out Slammers right fielder Boo Vazquez, a former Pitt standout.
Ort and reliever Kevin Simmons combined on a three-hitter and Vazquez hit a home run and two triples as Joliet cruised to a 5-1 victory at Consol Energy Park.
Washington mustered only three singles and advanced just one runner past second base.
“Tonight was just one of those nights,” Washington manager Gregg Langbehn said. “They got a couple early runs and that was enough. … We just didn’t get the barrel of the bat on the ball like we needed.”
That wasn’t a problem for Vazquez. The Youngstown, Ohio, native who is in his second season in the Frontier League, had a run-scoring triple in the first inning and scored on the first of two sacrifice flies by former Wild Things infielder Carter Bell. That was all the offense Joliet needed, but Vazquez made sure the Slammers’ pitchers had some wiggle room.
In the third inning, the left-handed hitting Vazquez smacked a solo homer to left-centerfield on a 3-2 pitch from Washington starter Matt Fraudin (2-1). It was Vazquez’s seventh home run in the Slammers’ 29 games.
“When my swing is going good and the pitcher makes a mistake, I can drive the ball out,” Vazquez said.
In the eighth inning, Vazquez laced his second triple of the game, this one off the wall in right centerfield and scored the game’s final run on another sacrifice fly.
Joliet manager Jeff Isom, who was the Wild Things’ original manager, said Vazquez’s performance reminded him of another outfielder who played at Consol Energy Park and won a league MVP award with the Wild Things during their early days.
“There are a lot of similarities between Vazquez and Josh Loggins,” Isom said.
Joliet got Vazquez in a trade with Lake Erie on the eve of the spring training. He helped the Slammers become one of the top hitting teams in the East Division. By going 3-for-4, Vazquez raised his batting average to .330.
“He swings the bat well. He’s gotten off to a good start and has had a lot of RBI opportunities,” Isom said. “The top and middle of our lineup has been producing.”
Washington didn’t get much production against Ort (2-1). The Wild Things’ only run came in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Jamal Austin walked, stole second base, advanced on a groundout and scored on David Popkins’ two-out single.
The Wild Things did have some opportunities late. They put two on with no outs in the seventh but didn’t score, and two on with one out in the eighth but hit into an inning-ending double play.
“They gave us a chance with walks and hit batsmen but we just couldn’t sustain an inning,” Langbehn said.
Fraudin gave up four runs in 6 1/3 innings. … Joliet scored its fourth run on a squeeze play. Catcher Joe Staley raced home from third base on a bunt by center fielder Charlie White. … Austin’s stolen base was his 11th of the season.