Quebec rallies, puts Wild Things on brink of elimination
QUEBEC CITY – The Wild Things hit four home runs, including three that led off innings, but they weren’t enough Friday night.
Quebec hit three home runs, including a go-ahead two-run blast by Anthony Quirion in the seventh inning, as the Capitales rallied for an 8-6 victory in Game 3 of the Frontier League championship series before 4,297 at Stade Canac.
The win gives Quebec a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 series and puts the Capitales on the brink of their third consecutive championship, which would be a first in league history.
Game 4 is Saturday (7:05 p.m.). Zach Kirby is expected to pitch for the Wild Things.
Washington had leads of 3-0, 5-3 and 6-4 but couldn’t hold off the Capitales.
The Wild Things did most of their damage early against Quebec starter Abdiel Saldana, but he was replaced by Ruben Ramirez, who fired five innings of one-run relief to get the win. Ramirez played his college baseball several years ago in Pittsburgh for Point Park.
Washington took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Tyreque Reed hit a two-run homer, scoring Tommy Caufield.
Brandon McIlwain led off the second inning with a home run that made it 3-0. It was the first off three consecutive innings in which the Wild Things led off with a home run.
Quebec tied it at 3-3 in the bottom of the second against Washington starter Jordan DiValerio. Justin Giedon led off with a home run, and Jake Mckenzie and Ruben Castro added run-scoring singles.
Washington went back on top when Caufield hit a leadoff homer in the third. Jalen Miller added an RBI double that scored Reed and put the Wild Things up 5-3.
A walk, stolen base, error and sacrifice fly pulled the Capitales to within 5-4 in through three innings.
Caleb McNeely started the fourth with a home run that again gave Washington a two-run advantage.
Quebec then chipped away, getting a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth that made it 6-5. The Cpitales had a chance to tie but McIlwain, the Washington right fielder, threw out a runner at home plate to end the inning.
In the seventh, with reliever Christian James on the mound, a walk preceded Quirion’s two-run homer that put Quebec up 7-6. Tommy Seidel added a home run that gave the Capitales a two-run edge.