Wild Things push winning streak to 8
The medical people say that Jalen Miller is a quick healer.
And because the Wild Things second baseman was able to return quickly from a broken hamate bone suffered during spring training, Washington’s lineup is a healthy and happy one these days.
Miller hit two solo home runs and six pitchers combined to shut down Sussex County on Sunday, as Washington ran its winning streak to eight games with a 7-2 victory over the Miners.
Miller was being counted upon to be an impact player in the lineup after being signed by Washington during the offseason. A former third-round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants, Miller played last year in the independent Atlantic League for Charleston (W.Va.) and hit 30 doubles, 12 home runs and stole 27 bases.
After being hit in the hand by a pitch during intrasquad action in May, Miller had surgery to repair the hamate bone.
“I was told that it would take six to eight weeks to get back. I talked to some other guys who had it and they said you could get back in four to five. I was trying for the five-week mark,” Miller explained.
“I got back right at six weeks. I had taken some batting practice, and hit off a tee, for two weeks before I got back to Washington. I was activated and the next thing I know I’m in the game that night pinch-running because Wagner (Lagrange) got hurt. A couple days later, I was in the lineup.”
And since then, the Wild Things have been on a roll. The win Sunday completed a series sweep of Sussex County and enabled the Wild Things to extend their lead in the Frontier League’s West Division to a season-high six games over second-place Gateway with 24 remaining in the regular season.
Miller’s home runs, his third and fourth of the season, came off Sussex County starter Charlie Neuweiler (2-3). The first, which tied the score at 1-1 in the first inning, came on a slider. The second came leading off the sixth and put the Wild Things ahead 3-1. Both were hit to left field.
Miller said hitting home runs is not his game – he’s more a gap-to-gap power guy.
“I had a coach in affiliated ball, Willie Harris, who is now the Chicago Cubs’ third-base coach, tell me that I have just enough power to hit it out and it keeps me swinging hard,” Miller said.
Washington manager Tom Vaeth said the value of Washington’s 27-year-old second baseman goes beyond hitting, fielding and baserunning.
“He’s good for the young guys,” Vaeth said. “I’ve seen them go to him and try to pick his brain. ‘What did you see?’ What approach would you take in this situation?'”
Washington signed left-handed pitcher Marlon Perez before the game and started the former Washington Nationals minor leaguer. It was his 92nd professional outing but only the second start. Perez went four innings, allowing three hits and one run. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out one.
“I thought he did OK,” Vaeth said. “It was our first look at him and I like that he works fast and, for the most part, he was attacking.”
Perez left with a 2-1 lead and was followed on the mound by Ryan Munoz, Nick MacDonald (3-0), Christian James, Alex Carrillo and Gyeongju Kim.
Washington took the lead for good at 2-1 in the third inning, when Brandon McIlwain and Ricardo Sanchez hit consecutive singles and Carson Clowers dropped an RBI double down the right-field line that fell between three charging Miners.
Miller’s second home run made it 3-1 in the sixth. Later in the inning, Andrew Czech worked a walk and scored when McIlwain tripled to deep right centerfield to make it 4-1.
Sussex County pushed across a run in the eighth, but in the bottom of the inning Robert Chayka drew a bases-loaded walk and Sanchez lined a two-run single to center field.
Extra bases
To make room on the roster for Perez, Washington put left-handed starting pitcher Kobe Foster (7-1, 3.08) on the 7-day injured list retroactive to Aug. 2. … Washington’s starting pitchers have won 15 of their last 16 decisions. … Sussex County shortstop Cory Acton was ejected in the top of the sixth inning by home plate umpire Kyle Eastman for arguing a called third strike. … Washington went 10-1 against teams from the East Division.