Wild Things blank Greys
Greys first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor misses the ball as the Wild Things’ Darian Sandford reaches base safely Wednesday night.
Emily Harger - Observer Reporter Wild Things Nick Akins steals second base during the bottom of the 2nd inning of their game against the Frontier Greys on Wednesday evening.
Emily Harger - Observer Reporter Wild Things right fielder Nick Akins throws the ball to first baseman Jim Vahalik, getting out the Frontier Greys hitter Justin Vasquez in the top of the first inning of the Washington Wild Things vs. Frontier Greys game on Wednesday evening.
Shawn Sanford pitched eight strong innings, and Jovan Rosa and Maxx Garrett each drove in three runs, as the Wild Things got back on the winning track by defeating the Frontier League Greys, 8-0, Wednesday night at Consol Energy Park.
Sanford (3-0) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and won his third consecutive start. He gave up three hits and three walks, and struck out seven. Zach Fleshman, a rookie pitcher out of Tennessee Wesleyan who was signed earlier in the day, completed the three-hit shutout by pitching the ninth inning.
Rosa continued his strong start to the season by going 3-for-5 with a single, double and two-run homer in the sixth inning that capped the scoring. Washington had 15 hits.
The Wild Things took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning against Greys starting pitcher Matt Costello (0-1). The first run came on an overthrow during a rundown that allowed C.J. Beatty to score. Garrett, a rookie catcher from Gonzaga, followed with a triple that scored Jim Vahalik.
In the fifth, Rosa doubled to drive home Shain Stoner and scored on a single by Vahalik. Garrett then made it 6-0 with a single that pushed across Vahalik and Nick Akins.
Rosa hit his first home run of the season, a line-drive shot in the sixth, with Stoner on base. Rosa’s big game pushed his batting average to .388.
After the game, Washington traded center fielder Darian Sandford to the Joliet Slammers. Sandford is batting .230 and leads the Frontier League with 15 stolen bases.