After long road trip, Things fall to Gateway
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Pitcher Chase Cunningham had a 10-3 record in 2017 for the Wild Things.
Washington’s Kenny Peoples-Walls fouls off a pitch against Gateway Friday night at Wild Things Park.
Washington’s Mike Hill attempts to tag out Gateway’s Joel McKeithan Friday night at Wild Things Park.
Following a series against Normal that ended Thursday night in Illinois, the Washington Wild Things drove more than hours on a bus to arrive back home at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
With a report time of three hours before the opening game of a weekend series against Gateway, the rested Grizzlies – off both Wednesday and Thursday – took advantage of a worn out Washington group.
“We were tired,” center fielder Rashad Brown said. “We barely got any sleep. It’s hard on those long road trips to bounce back the next day … We gave it our all, though. We pretty much did all we could do with the energy we had.”
The fatigued Wild Things fell to Gateway 3-2 in the first meeting between the two teams this season.
Washington manager Gregg Langbehn agreed with Brown about the team’s effort.
“I have no qualms with how we played tonight,” Langbehn said. “The effort level was fine. Were they tired? I don’t know. Probably. I’m tired. But you have to deal with it. As long as they give me 100 percent of whatever percentage they have left in the tank, that’s all I can ask for.”
Gateway got on the board early, as a Blake Brown sacrifice fly scored Matt Hearn, who led off the game with an infield single and advanced to third base on a wild pitch.
The Grizzlies loaded the bases in the second on a double and two walks, but Wild Things starting pitcher Chase Cunningham was able to escape his own jam without allowing a run.
The Wild Things tied the game in the third inning on a Justin Bohn double that scored Brown, who reached on a single.
Cunningham settled down in the middle innings, retiring 10 of 12 batters, but the seventh inning wasn’t as kind to the right hander.
After a leadoff single by Evan Rogers, a Matt Hearn sacrifice bunt hit, as second baseman Alex Fernandez didn’t cover first base in time to receive the throw.
A sacrifice bunt then moved both runners into scoring position and an intentional walk loaded the bases for the Grizzlies.
Despite escaping a bases-loaded jam earlier in the game, Cunningham wasn’t able to again, as Terry McClure drove in two with a single to right field.
“He just has to stay in the big part of the field,” Gateway manager Phil Warren said. “Terry is a good gap-to-gap hitter. He didn’t crush that ball, but he clawed with two strikes and put the ball in play. Strikeouts kill you in that situation, but in this game that was a huge hit.”
Joe Ravert then entered to reliever Cunningham (6-1) and retired to straight to escape the threat. Cunningham allowed three runs, all earned, and eight hits across 6 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three, and the loss was his first of the season.
If Langbehn could go back in time, he said would still leave Cunningham in the game to face McClure.
“In my opinion, he absolutely deserved to be in the game. He was undefeated, he’s been one of our work horses and I know he would want to be out there in that situation. He’s earned and deserved that opportunity to stay in there at that point.
In the eighth, Kane Sweeney cut the Things’ deficit in half with a two-out RBI single that scored Brown, who singled and stole second prior to being driven in.
Grizzlies closer Kaleb Earls shut the door in the ninth, retiring the Things in order for his fifth save of the season.
Ja’Vaun West (2-5) earned the win on the mound, allowing one run and five hits over six innings of work.
Despite the loss, Washington (28-20) still owns the first wild-card spot in the Frontier League. … The Wild Things are now 16-5 when their starting pitcher throws six or more innings, as Cunningham did tonight. … Earlier this week, Washington had eight players named as All-Stars for the East Division in the Frontier League All-Star Game Wednesday in Joliet, Illinois. … The Wild Things, who have won their last six series, look to even the series today against Gateway. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. … Brandon Bixler is making his first start of the 2017 season today. The southpaw, who pitched for the Wild Things last season, has been on the suspended list so far this season.