May 10, 2026 By Jerin Steele 2 min read

JOLIET, Ill. – After building an early 6-run lead, it looked like the Washington Wild Things may leave Joliet with a weekend sweep.

But the Slammers ended up salvaging a game with a rally.

Blake Berry hit a solo homer in the seventh inning for the go-ahead run and Joliet defeated Washington, 9-8, Sunday afternoon.

It was Berry’s second homer of the day and capped another high-scoring game after Washington won Saturday night, 16-6.

Washington scored two runs in each of the first four innings.

Andrew Czech hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Wild Things a 2-0 lead. It was the 89th homer of his career, which puts him third all-time in Frontier League history.

Czech also had a RBI double in the third inning, the 94th of his career, which gives him the most in Wild Things history. He broke a tie with Wagner Lagrange.

Ryan Ford had a two-run blast in the second and Jeff Liquori had an RBI single to go along with Czech’s double in the third.

That gave the Wild Things (2-2) a 6-0 cushion, but it didn’t last.

Joliet (1-2) plated four runs in the bottom of the third, including two on Berry’s first home run.

Caleb Ketchup responded with a two-run blast in the fourth to increase Washington’s lead to 8-4.

Joliet plated two in the bottom half of the fourth and Caleb Suto tied the game with a two-run homer in the fifth.

Ethan Brown started for the Wild Things and allowed six runs over four innings in a no-decision. He yielded six hits and two walks and fanned four. Landon Ginn took the loss in relief. He gave up the homer to Berry in the seventh. It was the only hit he yielded. He walked one and struck out one.

Donovan Smith pitched a scoreless inning of relief to get the win. Greyson Linderman recorded a save by pitching a clean ninth with two strikeouts.

Following an off day the Wild Things begin a three-game series at Evansville on Tuesday. The home opener at EQT Park is Friday against Schaumburg.