Aug 2, 2024 By Chris Dugan 4 min read

All season, the Wild Things have been finding ways to win, even in unlikely situations.

On a steamy Friday night against the Sussex County Miners, Washington pulled out its most unlikely victory, snatching victory from the jaws of what seemed like sure defeat.

Trailing 4-0 entering the bottom of the ninth inning and turning in what was a dud of a performance to that point, the Wild Things scored five times for a thrilling and improbable 5-4 come-from-behind victory.

Tyreque Reed hit a three-run homer off Sussex County reliever Tyler Luneke, and Andrew Czech came off the bench to belt a walk-off two-run homer off Miners closer Robbie Hitt to cap the comeback and set off a wild celebration at home plate.

What was possibly Washington’s worst game of the season turned into perhaps its best win, all in a half-inning span.

It was a dud of a performance for most of the night by the Wild Things. Washington was held to four hits by Sussex County starter Mike Reagan and Luneke for eight innings before the game became very interesting in the bottom of the ninth.

That’s when a walk by Jalen Miller, a single by Wagner Lagrange and Tyreque Reed’s three-run homer over the batter’s eye in center field trimmed Sussex County’s lead to 4-3 with no outs.

Hitt (1-1) was then brought into the game and he walked Tommy Caufield. A hit-and-run groundout move Caufield to second base. Caufield then stole third, forcing Sussex County to bring its infield in. Robert Chayka bounced out to third base with Caufield holding.

That brought up Czech, who fell behind 1-2 in the count. He didn’t miss Hitt’s next pitch and drove it over the wall in right field for the game-winning hit and his 14th home run of the season.

Malik Barrington started on the mound for Washington. He had early control issues and Washington fell behind 3-0.

Meanwhile, Washington was held to four hits by Reagan and Luneke for eight innings.

Barrington walked six batters and hit another with a pitch. He gave up only three hits but it was the free passes that put Washington in an early hole and tested the patience of the 1,688 in attendance.

On the season, Barrington has pitched 60 2/3 innings and allowed only 37 hits. He’s also walked 35 and struck out 74.

Sussex County, which entered the game as the lowest-scoring team in the Frontier League, could turn all the free baserunners into three runs against Barrington.

The Miners scored in the second inning without putting a ball in play. Gavin Stupenski was hit by a pitch, Alex Sayre followed with a walk and Hunter D’Amato drew a one-out free pass to load the bases. Another walk, this one to catcher Jason Agresti, forced in the game’s initial run.

Gabriel Maciel had a one-out bunt single in the third inning and scored on Stupenski’s double off the wall in right centerfield, making it 2-0.

Walks in the fourth again enabled Sussex County to again score without the benefit of a hit. Barrington walked D’Amato and Agresti to start the inning and both moved up on a bunt. Miners shortstop Cory Acton, who entered the night leading the league in hitting with a .347 batting average, lofted a sacrifice fly that scored D’Amato and made it 3-0.

That seemed to be more than enough offense for Reagan, a lefty who entered the game with a less-than-imposing 2-6 record and 6.16 ERA. Reagan threw seven shutout innings and allowed only four hits, including two doubles by left fielder Wagner Lagrange. Reagan walked one and struck out seven. It was Reagan’s best outing of the season.

Sussex County made it 4-0 in the seventh when Acton hit a leadoff homer against Washington reliever Justin Goossen-Brown.

Nick MacDonald (2-0) pitched the final two innings and was the winner.