Wild Things lose game, sign former 1st-round draft pick
The Wild Things had won five consecutive series but the Gateway Grizzlies, the team with the Frontier League’s worst record, put an end to that streak.
Eli Rogers hit a three-run double during Gateway’s six-run fourth inning and the Grizzlies went on to a 7-2 victory over Washington Saturday night at Wild Things Park.
The Grizzlies (15-36) have won the first two games of the three-game series that leads into the all-star break.
Washington pitcher Brandon Bixler (0-1) made his first start of the season and lasted only 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs. Reliever Mark Smyth also gave up three runs in the fourth inning, including Rogers’ bases-clearing hit.
Washington was held to only five hits by Gateway starter Alec Kisena and reliever William Anderson (2-6). Kyle Pollock had two of the Wild Things’ hits.
Brian Lees gave Gateway a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a home run. Hector Roa hit his eighth home run of the season, a solo shot in the bottom of the second inning, and Bralin Jackson had an RBI single in the 8th for the Wild Things’ only runs.
Prior to the game, the Wild Things announced the signing of outfielder James Harris, who is the first former first-round draft pick to sign with Washington. Harris was the final supplemental first-round pick in the 2011 first-year player draft. Harris was selected 60th overall by the Tampa Bay Rays out of Oakland Technical High School. With the pick after Harris, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected first baseman Josh Bell to start the second round.
The 23-year-old Harris spent four years in Tampa Bay’s farm system and three seasons with Oakland. He has played 11 games at Class AA and four in Class AAA. Harris was an all-star last year in the Class A California League, where he batted .303 with 31 doubles, seven home runs and 21 stolen bases.
Harris did not play Saturday night.