Evansville shuts out Wild Things
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Wild Things third baseman Mike Hill tags out Evansville’s Toby Thomas on an attempt at a steal Friday night.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Washington’s Brett Marr throws to first base for an out Friday night against Evansville at Wild Things Park.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Wild Things pitcher B.J. Sabol delivers a pitch. He is one of four returning players in the Wild Things’ bullpen.
Things change quickly in the Frontier League. Take the Evansville Otters’ pitching staff as an example.
When the Otters’ bus rolled into Wild Things Park Friday afternoon for the opener of a three-game series against Washington, Evansville’s Tyler Vail was on the disabled list with a 6.42 ERA and a blister on one of his pitching fingers, and teammate Patrick McGuff was scheduled to be the team’s starting pitcher.
Before the Otters got around to taking batting practice, Vail was activated from the disabled list, inserted into the starting lineup and McGuff was headed, along with Otters outfielder Logan Taylor, to the Cincinnati Reds organization. They became the second and third Evansville players signed to deals with major league affiliates this week.
The changes, which were made less than three hours before first pitch against Washington, left Evansville with only 21 active players, which is one under the Frontier League minimum. The Otters had to get special permission from the league to play with so few players.
What Evansville did have, however, was more than enough. Vail and reliever Tyler Beardsley combined on a four-hit shutout as Evansville blanked the Wild Things, 4-0, in a battle of division leaders.
“It’s fasten your seatbelt with us,” Evansville manager Andy McCauley said. “We’re losing people left and right.”
Vail (2-2), a native Pennsylvanian, allowed only two hits over six strong innings. He wasn’t expected to be activated from the disabled list until after next week’s all-star break but the Otters had to make a quick change of plans. So did Vail’s parents, who had to drive at a brisk pace from Easton to get to Washington in time for the start of the game. After all, they didn’t expect their son to even be on the active roster this weekend.
“Vail was off to a tough start this season but he threw the ball well tonight,” McCauley said.
Vail, who won 15 games for Evansville over the 2015 and 2016 seasons before playing in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ system last year, fed the Wild Things a heavy dose of sliders. The result was eight strikeouts.
“It looked like he threw 80 percent sliders, and that we decided we’re not going to swing at the strikes but swing instead at the balls,” Washington manager Gregg Langbehn said. “The reality in the Frontier League is you have to make adjustments.”
Vail was staked to a 2-0 lead before he even threw a pitch and had a 4-0 cushion in the second inning.
Evansville scored twice in the first inning against Washington rookie Taylor Bloom (0-1), getting a sacrifice fly by Jeff Gardner that scored David Cronin and a run-scoring single from Travis Harrison.
In the second inning, after Bloom walked Hunter Cullen, the Otters’ No. 9 hitter, Cronin doubled and Ryan Long, who began the night third in the league in hitting, dropped a two-run single into right field to make it 4-0.
“You can’t spot a team like that a 4-0 lead,” Langbehn said.
“Bloom made too many mistakes. Four of the first five hits he allowed came with two strikes. I know he’s new to this, but …”
That was all the support Vail and Beardsley needed. Beardsley pitched the final three innings for his first save.
“Vail has transformed himself,” McCauley said. “He’s able to throw more strikes. He’s become more of a pitcher than a hard thrower. Tonight, he figured it out. Washington can really hit the fastball. They’re an aggressive fastball-hitting team.”
Washington did not get a baserunner past second base. Right fielder Hector Roa had two of the Wild Things’ four hits.
Vail did walk five in his six innings. Four of the walks were immediately followed by a strikeout or double play. The Otters turned three double plays on the night.
The one bright spot for the Wild Things was relief pitcher B.J. Sabol. Signed Thursday, the Indiana University product threw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing only one hit in his professional debut. He struck out three.
Extra bases
It was the first time Washington has been shutout in a nine-inning game since May 18 at Lake Erie. … The Wild Things placed relief pitcher Sam Mersing on the disabled list Thursday and transferred him to the retired list Friday. Mersing (2-0, 4.22) told the Wild Things that he will be attending the police academy.