Well-grounded DiValerio helps Wild Things extend streak
Perhaps Jordan DiValerio simply needed two innings to get into a groove. Or maybe he’s just not a morning person.
Whatever the reason, it took a little time for DiValerio, a right-handed starting pitcher for the Wild Things, to command the strike zone when Washington played Evansville in a Kids Day game Tuesday that had a 10:35 a.m. start time.
But when DiValerio did get in a groove, he took control of the game and kept his infielders busy.
DiValerio pitched seven strong innings, and third baseman Tommy Caufield homered and drove in five runs, as the Wild Things extended their winning streak to six games with a 10-3 victory.
DiValerio (2-0), a Pennsylvania native who spent the last three years in the Boston Red Sox farm system, had his best outing since signing with Washington this year. After allowing a run in both the first and second innings, DiValerio dominated over the next five. With the help of a double play, he retired 16 of the final 17 batters he faced. Twelve of the outs came on ground balls and three were via strikeout. The only fly-ball out was a popout to first base.
“Once I got into a groove, I was able to get ground balls. I was working faster and had their hitters guessing more,” DiValerio said. “Once I started getting ground balls, I was living on the inside and outside corners and was using my offspeed pitches well.”
Washington manager Tom Vaeth said DiValerio did exactly what he was brought to Washington to do.
“You’ve got to let the guys play behind you. We’ve been stressing pitching to contact early.
“Jordan had over 200 innings pitched as a pro and in multiple roles. He has more experience than most of the guys we’ve been able to bring in. He definitely fits the bill.”
Washington erased a 2-1 deficit by scoring three runs in the second inning. Two of the runs scored on sacrifice flies by J.C. Santini and Caleb McNeely, and Caufield had an RBI single.
Caufield batted again in the third and hit a 1-1 pitch from Evansville’s Braden Scott (0-3) over the video board in right field for a three-run homer and 7-2 lead.
That was more than enough support for DiValerio, but the Wild Things tacked on a run in the sixth and two in the seventh. In the sixth, Carson Clowers had an RBI single, scoring Evan Berkey, who had singled. Caufield had a run-scoring single in the eighth and a throwing error on the play allowed the final run to score.
If nothing else, the Wild Things have looked like a different team since they opened the season with three consecutive 6-3 losses to Schaumburg. They swept a two-game series at New England before winning three at Tri-City.
“I saw that we were having good at-bats. The pitching settled down. Kobe Foster set the tone for that Saturday (a 2-1 win at Tri-City). That was the best he’s thrown the ball since he’s been here. Everyone fed off of that. (Gyeongju) Kim had two saves at Tri-City in place of Lucas Young,” Vaeth said. “We’ve had a good couple of days.”
Extra bases
Washington first baseman Andrew Czech was hit by a pitch and drew a walk, extending his consecutive games on-base streak to a franchise record 41. … Caufield and right fielder Robert Chayka each went 3-for-4. … The announced attendance was 4,428, a sellout.