May 25, 2016 5 min read

The Wild Things’ doubleheader split Wednesday night against Traverse City was much like their season to date – not half bad.

There were some good performances and some bad ones.

For right fielder David Popkins and pitcher Conner Kendrick it was a much-needed good night.

Popkins, the Wild Things’ cleanup hitter, homered in each game – his first two homers and RBI of the season – and Kendrick threw a one-hitter over six innings in the second game, a 4-3 Washington victory. Traverse City pitcher Jake Lanning allowed one run over six innings in the opener for his first professional win, a 3-1 victory by the Beach Bums.

The split kept Washington’s record at the .500 mark (5-5).

For Popkins and Kendrick, the games produced positive results.

The switch-hitting Popkins, who was fourth in the Frontier League last season with 20 home runs, provided Washington’s lone run in the opener with a solo homer. He added another blast in the second game.

“Popkins had better at-bats,” Washington manager Gregg Langbehn said. “For a couiple of games he was in a little funk. The way he hit the ball tonight was good to see. We need him to stabilize the middle of the order.”

Kendrick, a lefty who was a ninth-round draft pick of the New York Yankees in 2013, bounced back from two shaky starts to give up only one hit and one run over six strong innings in the nightcap. he was not involved in the decision.

“His command of the strike zone was better,” Langbehn said. “That was the big thing I was looking for. he had eight walks coming in. His secondary pitches were working tonight. That was the key. His first two starts were inconsistent but this outing was very encouraging because we’re going to need to pitch to win.”

Washington, was unable to give Kendrick a win as it could not protect a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning. Traverse City shortstop Will Kengor hit a two-out, two-run homer off reliever Andrew Woeck to tie the score at 3-3. It was Kengor’s second homer of the night.

Washington used three relievers to get three outs in the seventh after Kendrick was taken out of the game.

The Wild Things won the game when designated hitter Ricky Rodriguez hit a two-out, bases-loaded single off the wall in center field to score Jamal Austin in the bottom of the seventh.

Austin had reached base on a one-out walk off Beach Bums reliever James Ball (0-1) and moved to third on a single by Austin Wobrock. After Popkins was plunked by a 2-2 pitch from Benjamin Libuda, Rodriguez delievered the game-winner.

The Wild Things forged a 2-0 lead in the first inning off Tarverse City starter Rob Blanc, who labored through a 40-pitch inning. Andrew Heck was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Grant Fink’s walk forced in the second run.

Kendrick, who entered the night with a 10.80 ERA, was perfect until walking Ryan Bottger with one out in the fourth and Jose Vargas’ two-out double that made the score 3-1.

In the opener, Lanning (1-1) pitched four-hit ball over six innings.

Lanning played at Holy Cross College, an NAIA school in Notre Dame, Ind., where he was both an infielder and a pitcher. By the start of last spring, his senior season, Lanning was getting attention from pro scouts as a pitcher. But after a hot streak with the bat late in the season, Lanning was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 24th round as a hitter.

“I was thinking if I was going to get drafted it would be as a pitcher,” Lanning admitted. “Then I saw I was drafted, as a hitter. I had been golfing for three weeks. I hadn’t even picked up a bat during that time.”

Lanning didhit .273 in rookie ball last summer, but Atlanta picked up so many minor leaguers in trades in the offseason they had no room for him this spring. Lanning was released and later contacted by Traverse City to play second base. He initially declined the offer, then had second thoughts. After some encouragement from friends, Lanning called the Beach Bums and asked if could sign – as a pitcher.

Lanning pitched well enough in spring training to make the opening day roster, but his first start didn’t go well. He struggled commanding his offspeed pitches and yielded five runs in five innings against Windy City.

With seven days off, Lanning worked out a few kinks in his delivery and the extra work paid dividends against the Wild Things. Lanning’s location was pinpoint as he allowed only four hits and one walk. The lone Washington run was a no-doubter home run to right field by Popkins in the fourth inning that cut Traverse City’s lead to 2-1.

The Beach Bums won the game by hitting two solo homers off Washington starter Trevor Foss (1-2). Kengor homered in the fourth and Wesley Wallace, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, provided an insurance run with a homer in the sixth.

The Beach Bums scored the game’s first run in the third inning when Jeff DeBlieux singled, stole second base and scored when Bottger doubled to left field.

Foss gave up only six hits in a complete game. He struck out four and did not issue a walk.

Kengor, the Beach Bums’ shortstop, is a Pittsburgh native. He attended Central Catholic High School and Slippery Rock University. … Kramer Champlin, who threw a no-hitter in his second start of the season Friday against Joliet will start for the Beach Bums in tonight’s series finale.