Wild Things settle for doubleheader split
Washington\'s 11-game road winning streak snapped in nightcap
BROCKTON, Mass. — Andrew Czech and Anthony Brocato both homered, Caleb Ketchup scored the go-ahead run on a ground ball by Connor Peek in the seventh inning and the Wild Things defeated Brockton 7-6 in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday at Campanelli Stadium.
Brockton hit four solo home runs to win the nightcap, 4-2. It snapped Washington’s 11-game road winning streak.
Czech gave Washington a 2-0 lead with his 18th home run of the season in the first inning, but Brockton rallied with three runs in the bottom of the first and led 4-2 entering the fifth.
Brocato hit an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field for his league-leading 24th home run in the fifth to bring the Wild Things to within 4-3. It was Brocato’s fifth home run in three games.
Before the fifth ended, Jeff Liquori’s RBI single tied the score and Ketchup raced home on a wild pitch, giving the Wild Things a 5-4 lead.
Brockton regained the lead in the sixth, taking advantage of three walks (one intentional) by reliever Mack Anglin and getting a two-out RBI single up the middle by Nick Marola that put the Rox up 6-5.
In the top of the seventh, Czech and Ketchup began the inning by drawing walks off Brockton closer Brendan O’Donnell (3-4). Liquori tried to advance the runners with a bunt but missed the pitch, which went to the backstop for a wild pitch. Liquori then hit a sacrifice fly that tied the score.
Peek followed with a grounder to third base and Ketchup easily beat the throw to home plate, giving Washington the lead again at 7-6.
Landon Ginn pitched the bottom of the seventh for his 10th save. Eldridge Armstrong III (3-0), who has been with the Wild Things for only a week, threw two pitches and was the winner.
Washington took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the nightcap. Brockton won with four solo homers, including two by Derek Bender, off Wild Things starter Zander Sechrist (3-4).
Brockton starter Omar Melendez (1-1) threw a complete-game four-hitter. He tossed shutout ball after the first inning.
Joliet forfeits 3
The Frontier League announced Thursday that Joliet must forfeit three wins from late May and early June because the Slammers exceeded the league’s limit of two rostered players who are classified as Veterans — players who are age 30 or older.
Joliet forfeited three games won in which all three players participated. They were two games against Windy City and one against West Division leader Schaumburg. The ThunderBolts and Boomers will be awarded wins.
“Last month, the Joliet Slammers self-reported a clerical error that led to the fielding of a roster containing more Veteran-classification players than allowed by league rules. After an investigation into the circumstances, the League is satisfied that the violation was not an attempt to gain a competitive advantage. However, because of the inherent benefit, it has been determined that the Slammers victories on three dates will be vacated and assigned to their respective opponents,” the league said in a release.