Errors costly again for Things
NORMAL, Ill. – The Wild Things committed three errors in the first two innings and four overall Friday night in a 13-2 loss to the Normal CornBelters in the opener of a three-game series at The Corn Crib.
The errors led to five unearned runs for Normal and came on the heels of a loss Thursday night to the Frontier Greys in which Washington made two costly errors in the eighth inning of a 3-2 loss.
The win was the ninth in a row for Normal, which leads the Frontier League’s West Division.
The first two batters of the game for Normal reached base via Washington errors as the CornBelters scored two runs in the first inning and tacked on four more in the second against Washington starter Jeremy Holcombe (1-2).
Right fielder Scott Kalamar tried to keep the Wild Things within striking distance as he hit a solo homer in the second inning and had an RBI single in the third.
Normal, however, scored six runs over the middle innings. Every starter in the Normal lineup either scored a run or had an RBI.
Matt Ford had three hits for Washington.
Normal starting pitcher Kenny Johnson (6-4) allowed two runs over seven innings.
Prior to the game, Washington made two trades, sending third baseman Carter Bell (.234, 4 HR) to the Joliet Slammers for a player to be named, and starting pitcher Matt Sergey (3-4, 2.75) to Laredo of American Association for two players to be named. Sergey threw only perfect game in the Frontier League’s 23-year history last August against the Gateway Grizzlies at Consol Energy Park.
“One of the things with Matt is, it’s his third year in the league and he wants to play against older hitters to get picked up by an affiliated team,” Washington manager Bob Bozzuto told WJPA Radio.
Washington also activated rookie outfielder Cody Herald from the 7-day disabled list.