Wild Things win at New Jersey, add to division lead
PATERSON, N.J. – Jeff Liquori and Connor Peek hit home runs, Michael O’Hanlon and Colt Anderson combined for four shutout innings of relief and the Wild Things defeated New Jersey 8-3 Saturday night.
The Central Division-leading Wild Things gained a game in the standings on second-place Evansville as the Otters lost 6-1 at Windy City. Washington leads Evansville by seven games. Evansville and Windy City are scheduled to play a doubleheader Sunday in Crestwood, Ill.
Washington broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning when Peek hit a double that drove in Liquori. Kyle Edwards and Billy Sullivan added RBI singles in the seventh.
Liquori hit his 11th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the eighth inning.
Peek hit a solo homer, his second of the season, in the fifth inning to give Washington a 3-2 lead. New Jersey tied it in the bottom of the fifth against Wild Things starter Jack Brodsky, who went five innings.
O’Hanlon (3-0) pitched 2⅓ innings in relief of Brodsky and allowed only one hit. Anderson pitched the final 1⅔ innings. O’Hanlon and Anderson combined for seven strikeouts and allowed only one hit.
Washington opened the scoring in the second inning and a double steal. Liquori stole second base on the play and Czech stole home when the throw from the catcher went to second base. The second run scored on an RBI single by Peek.
Liquori and Peek both went 3-for-4.
Andrew Peters (3-1) was the losing pitcher in relief.