Wild Things’ record remains .500
Wild Things second baseman Justin Fox puts a tag on Windy City’s Blair Beck at Consol Energy Park on Wednesday. Beck was thrown out trying to steal second base.
The Wild Things’ Justin Fox breaks his bat on a swing during the opening game of a doubleheader Wednesday against Windy City.
Washington’s David Popkins, right, is congratulated by teammate Ricky Rodriguez (31) after hitting a game-tying home run in the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday in the opening game of a doubleheader against the Windy City ThunderBolts.
The Wild Things began the day straddling the .500 mark with a 10-10 record.
So the results of Washington’s Frontier League doubleheader Wednesday night with the East Division-leading Windy City ThunderBolts was what you would expect – not half bad.
The Wild Things came from behind late to win the opener, 5-3, before four Windy City pitchers combined on a four-hitter in the nightcap, a 3-1 victory for the ThunderBolts.
The games were highlighted by home runs – something not easy to do on cool nights at spacious Consol Energy Park. Washington hit three homers, including two in the pivotal sixth inning, in the opener. Windy City hit two of the three home runs in the nightcap.
Washington won the first game without hitting a single. The Wild Things bypassed the small stuff and went with big hits that did plenty of damage. Washington had six hits off Windy City starter Brady Muller (1-3) and reliever Joel Lima. All six went for extra bases, including home runs by Bryan Haar, David Popkins and Alex McKeon.
Haar hit his team-leading fifth home run in the first inning, but it was the homers by Popkins and McKeon in the bottom of the sixth that enabled the Wild Things to erase a deficit and pull out the victory.
Windy City designated hitter Cody Keffer hit a two-out, three-run homer to right field off Washington reliever Kolin Stanley (1-1) that gave the ThunderBolts a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth. The home run came after Washington starter Matt Fraudin was pulled after throwing five shutout innings.
“Matt did a nice job. He had a bit of a stiff neck. That, combined with a having a fresh bullpen, were were treating it like a nine-inning game,” Washington manager Gregg Langbehn said.
Popkins tied the score at 3-3 with his third homer of the year, a solo shot that cleared the wall between the scoreboard in left centerfield and the green batter’s eye. Windy City center fielder Johnny Eierman tried to make a leaping catch of the towering drive but couldn’t bring the ball back onto the field of play.
Two batters later, Muller issued a two-out walk to Logan Uxa that proved costly to the ThunderBolts. Joel Lima relieved Muller and gave up a two-run game-winning homer to McKeon. The shot to left field hit off the top row of advertising beyond the outfield wall and was the first homer of the season for the Wild Things’ catcher.
“It was a little deflating when they hit the three-run homer,” Lanbehn said, “but give credit to our guys for coming back.”
McKeon had given Washington a 2-0 lead in the fourth when his double drove in Uxa, who had tripled.
Zac Grotz earned his third save by pitching the seventh inning. Windy City made it interesting, putting runners on second and third with two outs before Grotz struck out catcher Corey Bass to end the game.
Fraudin, an Upper St. Clair native who is in his second season with the Wild Things, gave up six hits but did not issue a walk and tied his career high with seven strikeouts.
“My best pitcher was the fastball inside,” Fraudin said. “All of their hitters were right up there on top of the plate.”
Fraudin’s fastball tied up enough ThunderBolts for him to leave with a 2-0 lead after five innings.
Following two off days and Trevor Foss’ rain-shortened complete game Sunday, the Wild Things’ bullpen was well-rested and Langbehn didn’t hesitate to use it in the sixth inning. Stanley gave up two singles before Keefer’s stunning home run to right field.
Windy City used home runs to win the nightcap. First baseman Blair Beck hit a two-run shot off Washington starter Chase Cunningham in the fourth inning that gave the ThunderBolts a 2-1 lead. Left fielder Coco Johnson added a solo shot in the fifth.
That was enough offense for Windy City pitcher Tyler Murphy, who was making his first start of the season, and three relievers. They combined on a four-hitter and struck out 11. Brian Loconsole (1-0) was the winner with Isaac Gil getting a save in his Windy City debut.
“In the second game, we had a couple of mistakes and couldn’t overcome them,” Langbehn said.
Washington’s only run was a solo home run off the scoreboard by Grant Fink in the second inning.
“We’re pitching well, our defense has been good and our offense is getting better,” Langbehn said. “We’re trending in the right direction.”
The second game of the doubleheader was the 100th all-time – regular-season and playoffs – between Washington and Windy City. The series is tied 50-50. … Washington’s first single of the doubleheader was hit by Uxa in the fourth inning of the second game. Harr had two of Washington’s four hits in the second game.