Grand slam, pitching key to Wild Things’ victory
Observer-Reporter
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Brandon McIlwain hit a grand slam in the first inning, Kobe Foster pitched into the ninth and the Wild Things defeated Evansville 7-2 Saturday night at Bosse Field.
McIlwain’s first home run with Washington gave the Wild Things an early 4-0 lead. It came off Evansville starterI Braden Scott (1-9).
The big blast was all the support Foster and reliever Brendan Nail needed. Foster (6-1) allowed only four hits and two runs (one earned) over eight-plus innings. He did not issue a walk and struck out 10. It was the fourth consecutive start in which Foster has had double-digit strikeouts.
Evansville scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning before Foster took control of the game, retiring 15 consecutive Otters at one stretch.
In the seventh inning, Washington made it 6-1 when Ethan Wilder hit a two-run single that drove in Andrew Czech and Jalen Miller. The Wild Things added another run in the ninth when Robert Chayka bounced into a fielder’s choice that scored Czech, who reached base four times.
Foster allowed a leadoff double in the ninth that ended his night.
The win, combined with Florence’s 8-5 victory at Lake Erie, pushed Washington’s lead over the second-place Crushers in the Frontier League’s West Division to 2½ games.