Kirby throws shutout, Ketchup homers as Wild Things win
The Wild Things’ starting pitchers are a competitive group, not only with opposing hitters but also with each other.
You threw a complete game? Yeah, I can do that, too.
Throw a shutout? Yep, I’ll go toss one.
Win a Pitcher of the Week award? You’ll have to beat me this week.
That seems to be the case with each game the Wild Things play. They’re getting one memorable pitching performance after another. So much so that the toughest part of manager Tom Vaeth’s job these days is getting all of his relief pitchers enough work.
Washington starter Zach Kirby pitched his first career shutout and Caleb Ketchup hit a solo home run as the Wild Things extended their winning streak to six games with a 2-0 victory over Mississippi before a rare Tuesday night sellout crowd of 3,250.
Kirby (4-0) was masterful in throwing a 118-pitch complete game. He allowed only four hits and most importantly did not walk a batter. He struck out seven.
“I wanted one of these,” Kirby said, holding up the lineup card from his shutout, given to him by pitching coach Josh Flowerman.
“I was finally able to get past the sixth inning and get a full nine innings under my belt.”
Kirby had gone six innings in each of his last four starts. The only other complete game of Kirby’s career was a loss, a 1-0 setback at Trois-Rivieres last year.
Kirby had been protecting a 1-0 lead this time for several innings, the result of Ketchup’s solo home run in the fourth inning off Mississippi starter Brian Williams (0-5). Washington carried the 1-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth and the Wild Things had reliever Landon Ginn warming up in the bullpen.
Kirby, however, was sure he could finish the game.
“When I came in after the eighth, I was at 107 pitches,” Kirby pointed out. “We had a conversation. I said that I had the opportunity to get a shutout, so let me go back out there.”
The decision was made easier in the bottom of the eighth when Washington pushed across an insurance run, this also coming off the bat of Ketchup, the Wild Things’ center fielder.
Andrew Czech and Cole Fowler drew consecutive two-out walks off Mississippi reliever Brayden Sanders, and Ketchup followed with an RBI single to left centerfield that made it 2-0.
Kirby returned to the mound and quickly got a foul out, fly ball and ground ball to complete the shutout. The outing comes on the heels of a combined shutout started by Kirby last Wednesday at Windy City, Kobe Foster’s no-hitter Friday against New Jersey and a pair of near-shutouts of the Jackals on Saturday and Sunday. Over the last 45 innings, Washington pitchers have been scored upon in only two frames.
“We’re competitive with each other, for sure,” Kirby said. “It’s not easy when Kobe ups the bar higher every week. He said a few weeks ago that he wanted to win a Pitcher of the Week award. Then he goes out and wins two in a row. It’s friendly competition.”
Vaeth said he sees his pitchers being competitive in a different way than Kirby does.
“They’re all competitive individually,” he said. “They’re pushing themselves every time out instead of trying to outdo each other.”
Johnson pitched a strong game for Mississippi despite his winless record. The righthander, who was an all-star a year ago, allowed only five hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out 10 (eight swinging).
Extra bases
The only rough spot for Kirby came in the second inning when Mud Monsters first baseman A.J. Fritz hit a shot off the pitcher’s left wrist, just below the glove. He was checked on the field by trainer Hailey Drollinger but remained in the game. … The start of the game was delayed 24 minutes because of rain. … The Mud Monsters made a 16-hour bus trip (plus an hour lost to the time zone change) after playing at home Sunday night and arrived in Washington at about 2 a.m. Tuesday. … The series continues at 6:05 tonight with Hector Garcia (3-1, 1.04) pitching for Washington against Mississippi’s Art Joven (3-2, 4.86).