Wild Things on brink of playoff spot
JOLIET, Ill. – Wagner Lagrange homered, Jordan DiValerio and two relievers combined on a seven-hit shutout and the Wild Things moved to the brink of a playoff berth by defeating the Joliet Slammers 2-0 Thursday night.
Lagrange hit a solo home run in the first inning for the second night in a row and that was all the offense the Washington pitchers would need. It was Lagrange’s ninth home run of the season.
DiValerio (9-2) pitched seven innings, did not issue a walk and struck out four. Christian James pitched the eighth inning and Gyeongju Kim tossed the ninth for his league-leading 21st save.
Washington added a run in the second against Joliet starter Jake Armstrong (4-7). Ethan Wilder hit a one-out double and scored on a single by Cole Roberts.
The Wild Things reduced their magic number for making the playoffs to 1. Washington will return to the Frontier League playoffs as early as tonight if they defeat Lake Erie or Schaumburg loses at home to Joliet.