Strong late: Things win 800th game
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Bralin Jackson hit a tiebreaking single in Washington’s seven-run top of the ninth inning Friday night and the Wild Things picked up an important 8-2 victory over the Traverse City Beach Bums.
The victory was the 800th in Wild Things franchise history. They are one of only three teams to win 800 games in the Frontier League.
The win also inched Washington closer to a playoff spot. The Wild Things began the night holding the second and final wild-card berth playoff berth. Though they were unable to gain on Evansville, which was a 10-3 winner over Gateway, the Wild Things put a game on Windy City, which lost 3-2 in 10 innings to Schaumburg.
Washington (51-42) has a 1 1/2-game lead over Windy City (50-44) for the final playoff spot.
The Wild Things have only three games remaining in the regular season. Washington and Traverse City will play a doubleheader today with Brian O’Keefe (3-5) and Aaron Burns (4-3) scheduled to pitch for the Wild Things.
The game was tied 1-1 through eight innings but Washington’s James Harris led off the ninth with a triple off losing pitcher Brian Bayless (3-6). After a groundout held Harris at third base, Jackson bounced a single up the middle to give Washington a 2-1 lead.
Before the inning ended, Washington scored on a balk, a dropped fly ball, Mike Hill’s two-run double and a single by Harris.
Traverse City scored one run in the bottom of the ninth.
Davis Adkins (4-1), the third of four Washington pitchers, was the winner. He faced only one batter.
Washington starter Chase Cunningham allowed one run (unearned) on four hits and four walks over seven innings.