Wild Things fall to fast-starting Quebec in Game 2
It’s September, which is playoff time in the Frontier League.
And if you know your Wild Things history, then you know that means it’s the time of year that Washington has played some of its worst baseball.
That was the case Wednesday night, and it came in Game 2 of the Frontier League championship series. In this case, it was only three innings but they were damaging.
Quebec, the two-time defending champion, pummeled Washington pitching for 10 hits and 11 runs in the first three innings en route to a 11-6 victory.
Quebec’s victory evens the best-of-5 series at 1-1. The series moves to Canada for Game 3 Friday night. Jordan DiValerio (10-2, 3.39) will start for Washington.
The Capitales took control from the outset. They scored two runs in the first inning, seven in the second and two in the third, draining the energy out of the crowd of 2,425 that was on hand for Washington’s final home game of the season. The Capitales forged leads of 9-2 in the second inning and 11-2 in the third.
The 11 runs were the most scored by a visiting team at Wild Things Park this season. Windy City scored nine in a game that Washington won (11-9) on July 7.
“When you’re playing for a title … I expected some pushback,” Washington manager Tom Vaeth said. “There is a lot of pride in (Quebec’s) dugout and they came out swinging the bats.”
The Wild Things did outscore the Capitales 4-0 over the final six innings but by then the damage had been done.
Quebec scored twice in the top of the first against Washington starter Dariel Fregio (1-1). Ruben Castro drew a leadoff walk and David Glaude followed with a home run to right field on the ninth pitch of the at-bat.
“We didn’t pitch well to start the game,” Vaeth said. “It began the same as it ended (Tuesday). We walked guys and when we got two strikes on a batter we weren’t able to put them away.”
The Wild Things did score twice in the bottom of the first against Quebec starter James Bradwell (1-0), the league’s Pitcher of the Year. Tommy Caufield hit a solo homer down the right-field line, Tyreque Reed doubled to left centerfield and Andrew Czech laced an RBI single.
The momentum didn’t last.
Quebec sent 10 batters to the plate in the second inning, knocking Fregio out of the game after getting only four outs. Castro had a two-run double and catcher Anthony Quirion hit a two-run homer off reliever Malik Barrington.
“It looked like we were in for a long night,” Vaeth said of his thoughts during the second inning. “It wasn’t from a lack of effort. I felt bad for Fregio.”
Washington scored a run in the third when Caufield singled and came around to score when Bradwell threw away a grounder hit by Reed, making it 11-3.
The Wild Things scored two runs in the seventh without the benefit of a hit, and Brandon McIlwain added an RBI triple in the ninth.
Washington used six pitchers with the final four – Ryan Munoz, Zach Kirby, Brendan Nail and Nick MacDonald combining for six shutout innings, allowing only two hits.
“There were a lot of positives from my standpoint,” Vaeth said. “Munoz and everybody who followed did a really good job. We did a good job of playing out the string.”
Washington center fielder Caleb McNeely, the league’s Most Valuable Player, did not play because of an injury suffered in Game 1.
“I have some guys who are hurting. I don’t know about their availability,” Vaeth said.
Extra bases
A film crew was at Games 1 and 2, following the Capitales for an upcoming series that will air on Netflix Canada. … Game 4 of the series will be Saturday (7:05 p.m.) and Game 5, if necessary, Sunday (5:05). The final three games are scheduled for Quebec City. The Wild Things are 37-11 in road games.