Pitching staffs at forefront of Wild Things-Crushers series
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
Pitching and defense.
The Wild Things and Lake Erie Crushers figured out a long time ago that pitching and defense wins big in baseball. That’s why Washington and Lake Erie will be meeting in Game 1 of the Frontier League’s best-of-3 divisional playoff round tonight in Avon, Ohio. Game 2 is Saturday at Wild Things Park with Game 3, if necessary, Sunday, also in Washington.
The Wild Things enter the series with a pitching staff that produced the lowest ERA (3.19) in the 16-team league. Washington also walked the fewest batters, had the most quality starts and had the best record in the league at 67-28.
Lake Erie was second in team ERA (3.45) and has a strong bullpen, which will make playing with a lead important for the Wild Things.
“It has always come down to pitching and defense,” Washington manager Tom Vaeth said. “As much as we try to change the game, it’s pitching and defense, and timely hitting, that wins. If you don’t have those things, then you don’t go far.”
Lake Erie is in this series because it received timely hitting Tuesday night in a 10-8 victory at Gateway in the wild-card game.
The Crushers trailed 8-6 entering the top of the ninth inning when center fielder Jack Harris led off with a solo home run that made it a one-run game. Lake Erie was down to its final strike – twice – when first baseman Vincent Byrd Jr. hit a stunning three-run homer that gave the Crushers the lead. It was Byrd’s second homer of the game and one of five Lake Erie smacked in Gateway’s hitter-friendly ballpark.
Runs should be more difficult to produce in this series, given the pitching staffs that are involved.
Washington is expected to send lefthander Kobe Foster (10-1, 2.91) to the mound for Game 1. Foster is one of the Wild Things’ pitchers who are extreme strike throwers. He walked only 23 batters in 117 2/3 innings and struck out 126.
“We definitely wanted guys who command the strike zone,” Vaeth said. “What we had last year, I didn’t want to put myself or the fans through that. We wanted to put guys out there who aren’t afraid to throw the ball over the plate. When you make other teams swing the bat, you give yourself a chance. You can’t defend a walk.”
Foster is in his third season with Washington and has a 25-7 record. The only thing that is missing from the record is a playoff victory.
Vaeth said that Zach Kirby (10-4, 2.42) will pitch Game 2 and Jordan DiValerio (10-2, 3.39) is tentatively scheduled for Game 3.
“That could change based on who we’re seeing,” Vaeth cautioned. “With Kobe, Kirby, DiValerio and Dariel Fregio, I’m not afraid to start any of the four.”
Lake Erie pitched Darrien Ragins against Gateway. The Crushers could send lefty Jake Eisenbarger (8-4, 2.91) or righthander Anthony Escobar (8-4, 2.43) to the mound for Game 1.
Extra bases
In an interesting sidenote, the Wild Things have infielder Cole Roberts, who is the son of Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Lake Erie has outfielder Ron Washington Jr., whose father is the manager of the Los Angeles Angels. … Ottawa will play Quebec in the East Division series. … Washington won the regular-season series against Lake Erie, 8-4. The teams split six games in Avon, Ohio. … One piece of history that is on Lake Erie’s side is that the winner of the West Division wild-card game has advanced to the league finals in each of the last two years.