Wild Things’ rally falls short
EVANSVILLE, IND. — Evansville used a four-run sixth inning and held off a late Washington rally for a 4-3 victory and a series win over the Frontier League leaders on Sunday at Bosse Field.
The Wild Things (39-20) still lead the West Division by three games over Lake Erie (27-23). Quebec (38-22) leads the East Division by 2 ½ games over New York (35-24).
Washington opens a three-game set with Lake Erie on Tuesday at Wild Things Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m.
The Otters scored their four runs on two hits for a 4-1 lead heading into the seventh.
Pavin Parks walked to lead off the frame and Randy Bednar was hit-by-pitch, which caused Washington manager Tom Vaeth to go to the bullpen and replace starter Malik Barrington for Ryan Munoz.
Dakota Phillips’ double down the right-field line scored Parks and Bednar to give Evansville a 2-1 advantage.
Munoz forced a flyout to right field before intentionally walking Alec Olund to put runners at first and third with one out.
Phillips scored on Logan Brown’s sacrifice bunt that moved Olund to second. Olund scored on Gio DiGiacomo’s base hit to right center for a three-run lead.
The Wild Things’ Brandon McIlwain hit solo homer runs in the seventh and ninth innings, and Robert Chayka singled to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but Parks fielded a ground ball for the final out to earn his second save this year.
Washington scored the first run in the fifth inning when Chayka walked and scored on Ricardo Sanchez’s double for a 1-0 lead.
Barrington took the loss to fall to 4-3, but he pitched well in allowing two earned runs on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Ryan Wiltse improved to 2-1 this year in allowing one earned run on one hits in two innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Evansville starter Casey Delgado didn’t allow a run on one hit over four innings. He had five strikeouts and walked two.