May 21, 2025 2 min read

JOLIET, Ill. – Antonio Valdez scored from second base on a two-out single by Brailyn Marine in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Joliet Slammers a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Wild Things in a series opener Tuesday night.

The game was tied 2-2 entering the bottom of the ninth and Washington reliever Jackson Hicks (0-1) retired the first two batters of the inning. Valdez, however, was then hit by a pitch and stole second base, setting up Marine’s game-winning hit.

The game started 86 minutes late because of a rain delay. When play began, the Wild Things put runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the first inning but pushed across only one run, that on an RBI groundout by Tyreque Reed that scored Ethan Wilder, who opened the game with a double.

Washington went up 2-0 in the fourth when a double by Willie Estrada scored Brett Roberts.

Joliet scored one run in the bottom of the fourth and tied the score in the sixth when Marine led off with a triple and came home on a single by Blake Berry.

Washington starter Regi Grace went seven innings, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned).