McIlwain homer key in Wild Things’ victory
Brandon McIlwain sat in the home team’s dugout Saturday night and watched as teammates Wagner Lagrange, Tyreque Reed and Andrew Czech hit back-to-back-to-back home runs – a first in Washington’s 22-season history – in the first inning of the Wild Things’ win over New York.
“I would have loved to have been part of that,” McIlwain said.
Less than 24 hours later, McIlwain showed that it can be just as much fun driving in three runs with one swing.
McIlwain, Washington’s right fielder, hit a three-run homer that capped a four-run fourth inning and broke open a close game, sending the Wild Things on to an 8-1 victory over the Boulders before a sellout crowd of 3,468 on a scorching Sunday evening.
McIlwain’s home run, his fifth in 20 games since joining Washington from the New York Mets’ farm system, gave the Wild Things a 5-1 lead. It also gave some wiggle room to Washington’s pitching staff, which worked in and out of trouble the entire game.
New York had one of the most unusual linescores you’ll ever see. The Boulders scored one run on 14 hits.
Yes, 14 hits.
New York also drew two walks, had two hit batsmen and had another batter reach base when a potential double-play grounder was thrown away. The Boulders had a hit in every inning except the ninth, when they settled for a walk and hit batsman. The Boulders left 14 runners on base.
“We had one of those games two years ago,” Washington manager Tom Vaeth recalled. “We had something like 15 hits at Evansville, plus a couple of walks and a hit batsman, but we scored only one run. So I know how frustrating that is. I know how (the Boulders) feel.”
The only run New York scored against Washington starter Jordan DeValerio (6-2) and three relievers came in the second inning when Thomas Walraven crossed home plate on a single by Steve Barmakian that tied the score at 1-1. The run came one batter after Joe Deluca singled and the Boulders’ Isaac Bellony was thrown out at home plate by McIlwain.
Bellony injured a leg and a half-inning later was carried back to the Boulders’ clubhouse by several teammates.
DeValerio gave up 11 hits in six innings but allowed only the one run. He did not walk a batter, which was important.
“That’s what you call scattered hits,” Vaeth said. “He got a couple of big double plays and a couple of big strikeouts when he needed them.”
Washington took a 2-1 lead in the fourth against New York starter Aaron Dona (1-5). Lagrange, who was 7-for-11 in the series, led off with a single, moved up on a groundout and scored when Czech singled to center field.
Jalen Miller then walked and McIlwain followed with his no-doubt three-run homer down the left-field line. The only question after McIlwain hit the ball was if it would stay fair before carrying well over the outfield wall. It did stay fair and the Wild Things suddenly had a 5-1 lead.
Czech had an RBI double in the fifth inning and Tommy Caufield belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning. It was Caufield’s ninth home run.
“It helped that with one big swing we broke open the game and took some of the pressure off (DeValerio),” Vaeth said.
Extra bases
Washington won all five of its home series in July and has been victorious in 20 of its last 30 games at Wild Things Park. … Twelve of New York’s 14 hits were singles. … Washington had eight hits but drew seven walks.