Wild Things blanked in opener
JOLIET, Ill. – Jack Cleary scored from first base on a two-out double down the left-field line by J.D. Williams in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday night to give the Joliet Slammers a 1-0 victory over the Wild Things and cap a sweep of a Frontier League doubleheader.
Jordan Guth pitched a four-hit shutout as Joliet defeated the Wild Things 2-0 in the opener at Silver Cross Field.
Joliet swept the three-game series and held Washington to just one run. The Wild Things scored in the first inning of the opening game Tuesday night and then was shut out over the next 24 innings.
Tyler Ferguson, who was making his first professional start, Matt Purnbell and Richie Mirowski combined for eight shutout innings in the second game for Washington. The Slammers broke the scoreless tie with a run off Tim Giel (1-1).
Kevin McNorton (2-0), the third Joliet pitcher, was the winner.
Washington had chances to win the game in the eight and ninth innings. In the eighth, Danny Poma hit a two-out double and Carter Bell followed with a single but Poma was thrown out trying to score on the play. The Wild Things loaded the bases with one out in the ninth but two strikeouts stranded three runners.
In the opener, Guth (3-3) walked three and struck out two. The Slammers backed their pitcher with single runs in the third and sixth innings.
Washington starting pitcher Ernesto Zaragoza (2-1) gave up eight hits and two runs (one earned) in 5 2/3 innings. Joilet scored an unearned run in the third inning and added an insurance run in the sixth when Hunter Ridge and Cleary hit doubles.
The Wild Things loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning but a double play ended the threat.