May 22, 2013 2 min read

LOVES PARK, Ill – Maxx Garrett broke up a no-hitter in the sixth inning with his first professional home run to help the Washington Wild Things rally for a 5-2 victory over Rockford Wednesday at Aviator Stadium.

It was the second straight win for the Wild Things after being swept by Schaumburg to start the season.

Garrett’s blast came off Drew Ruscinski, who took a no-hitter and a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning for Rockford. Darian Sandford followed with a bunt single, stole second base and beat the throw to third base when Gus Benusa bunted. Sanford came home on a balk call to give the Wild Things a 2-1 lead.

Ruscinski was pulled after seven innings and his reliever, Nate O’Bryan, gave up a solo home run to Benusa to start the eighth inning to make it 3-1.

Rockford cut the Wild Things’ lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth when Ray Hernandez singled, was sacrificed to second and driven home on a single by Greg Van Horn.

Washington put it away with two runs in the top of the ninth. Garrett singled in Stewart Ijames for one run and Shain Stoner scored on a perfect suicide squeeze bunt by Benusa.

Winning pitcher Gary Lee went seven innings, allowing six hits and striking out six. Orlando Santos pitched the ninth for his first save. Ruscinski struck out eight and gave up five hits and one run in seven innings.