Wild Things shut out twice by Lake Erie
When Tom Vaeth was asked Friday evening, long before the Wild Things’ series opener against Lake Erie was rained out, about his team’s road trip that ended a day earlier with a 7-2 record, the Washington manager had only a short answer.
“I hope we can continue hitting,” he said.
Hope is all the Wild Things had Saturday night in a doubleheader at EQT Park.
That’s because they didn’t have any runs.
And few hits.
As a result, Lake Erie swept the twinbill, 5-0 and 2-0, ending Washington’s winning streak at six games.
The Wild Things were held to five hits, four of them singles, over the 14 innings.
They had no answers for three Lake Erie pitchers who combined on a three-hitter in the opener. The Crushers used four pitchers to blank the Wild Things on two hits in the nightcap. Washington had 10 at-bats on the night with runners in scoring position. They were 0-for-10 in those situations.
Vaeth, in keeping with the theme of the night, said he had no comment after the sweep.
Lake Erie manager Jared Lemieux had plenty to say, especially about his pitching staff, which has shut out Washington in each of the last three games in the season series.
“Guys were executing pitches and sticking to the game plan,” he said. “We have guys who are getting comfortable in new roles.”
Lake Erie entered the day 12th in the Frontier League in team ERA at 6.58. The Crushers, however, have pitched better over the last three weeks.
“We have a young bunch and they’re very talented,” Lemieux said. “They’re getting adjusted. The veterans we have are letting the young guys get comfortable playing at this level. It’s all a slow-cook brew.
“I think there is a lot of potential for greatness with this staff. Tonight was a momentum swing for us. We secured a series win against a division rival. We’re starting to jell.”
Lake Erie also didn’t have many hits on the night – six in the opener and two in the nightcap – but the Crushers made the most of their hits. Lake Erie won the opener by hitting three home runs off Washington starter Kobe Foster (6-2). In the nightcap, Lake Erie’s only hits were back-to-back in the second inning and produced a run.
Lake Erie led from start to finish in the opener. Center fielder Sebastian Alexander led off the game with a home run, and before the first inning would end the Crushers would add a three-run homer off the left-field foul pole by second baseman Luis Acevado. Three of the four runs in the inning were unearned.
Lake Erie starter Edwin Sanchez (5-2) and two relievers combined on a three-hit shutout. Sanchez, a lefty, allowed two hits over five innings with eight strikeouts. He did issue four walks, which gave the Wild Things scoring opportunities that they were not able to capitalize on. Washington went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Foster allowed only three hits over five innings, but all three left the ballpark. Pavin Parks hit a solo homer in the fifth to make it 5-0. Foster walked four and struck out four.
In the second game, Lake Erie starter Bob Helt pitched three hitless innings and was replaced. Brandon Scott (2-5) followed for two innings, Wesley Culley pitched one frame and Dawson Hargrove tossed the seventh inning for his first professional save.
Washington starter Jack Brodsky was sensational for six innings. The rookie righthander allowed only two hits in his best outing as a professional. He did not walk a batter and struck out six.
Lake Erie’s only hits off Brodsky were an infield single by Garrett Pike in the second inning that was followed by an RBI double off the right-field foul line by Acevado.
Washington had a scoring opportunity in the fifth when Cole Fowler led off with a single and Billy Sullivan reached on a throwing error on his sacrifice bunt.
With runners on first and second, Scott attempted a pickoff throw at second base that sailed into center field. Fowler opted not to attempt to advance but Sullivan did. He was eventually caught in a rundown and tagged out.
In the sixth, Brodsky clipped Alexander with a 1-2 pitch to start the inning. Alexander stole second base, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Joe Redfield’s sacrifice fly that made it 2-0.
“Our guys are starting to figure it out,” Lemieux said. “We’re starting to figure them out and be able to put them in situations where they can be successful.”
Extra bases
Prior to the games, Washington made several roster moves. Starting pitcher Esteban Rodriguez (0-1, 10.03) was released after telling the coaching staff that he was retiring. Relief pitcher Shuto Okumura was placed on the 14-day injured list retroactive to July 7 and left-handed relief pitcher Max Folkman was signed. Folkman is a rookie out of Eckerd College, a Division II school in St. Petersburg, Fla. … Washington shortstop Kyle Edwards pitched a scoreless seventh inning in the opener. It was Edwards’ second pitching outing of the season and he has yet to allow a run. … Washington and Lake Erie are both in the Central Division. The Wild Things are 3-5 against the Crushers, 12-11 against the Central Division and 25-8 against the rest of the league. Washington is 29-5 when it scores the first run of a game but 8-14 when the opponent scores first.