Jul 10, 2017 5 min read

The Frontier League’s all-star break arrived three days too late for the Wild Things.

Washington had won five consecutive series stretching back to early June but the Gateway Grizzlies, who own the league’s worst record, rolled into town over the weekend and promptly played the role of the bully who kicked sand in the Wild Things’ faces. Gateway capped a three-game series sweep by outlasting Washington 2-1 in 12 innings Sunday.

It was the first time the Wild Things have been swept in a series all season. They will take a 28-22 record into the four-day all-star break.

“We have 28 wins and I’ll take that over 20 or 21 wins at the break any time,” Washington manager Gregg Langbehn said. “That’s the way I look at it after how poorly we swung the bats the last three games. But we played very well before this series and that puts us in a good situation.”

The Wild Things are tied with Windy City for second place in the East Division, six games behind the first-place Schaumburg Boomers. The ThunderBolts will open the season’s second half Friday at Washington. The Wild Things also hold the league’s final wild-card playoff spot.

“We need to be ready to recommence on Friday,” Langbehn said.

The finale against Gateway (16-36) played out like the first half of the season for the Wild Things, who have struggled to hit and score runs. Washington pitcher Brian O’Keefe and Gateway starter Vince Molesky each had terrific starts but not much to show for their efforts. O’Keefe threw seven shutout innings and allowed only three hits before turning the game over to reliever Davis Adkins, who followed with two shutout innings.

Molesky held the Wild Things to two hits over eight shutout innings. Reliever Mike Elwood followed with two scoreless innings. From the fourth inning through one out in the 12th, the only Washington batter to reach base safely was catcher John Fidanza, who singled leading off the fifth and singled again with two outs in the 10th.

Washington finished with only three hits off three Gateway pitchers, including winner Kaleb Earls (1-4), who pitched the final two innings. The Wild Things had only five hits Saturday night and were held to two runs in the series opener Friday.

“We wasted some really good pitching this weekend, especially (Sunday) and Friday,” Langbehn said. “Those were two games we had to win but they outplayed us.”

With the way the teams were struggling just to generate baserunners, let alone runs, you had the feeling that the ending would be twisted, and it was. The game went to the International Tiebreaker – each half inning starts with a runner on second base and no outs – in the 11th and Gateway managed to run themselves out of the advantage by making the first out in both the 11th and 12th innings at third base. That, however, didn’t stop the Grizzlies in the 12th.

After pitcher Zach Strecker (5-2) stabbed a comebacker and threw out Zac Michener, who tried to advance from second to third for the first out of the 12th, Brian Lees blooped a single just inside the right-field foul line that advanced Jack Hranec to third base.

Washington then opted to play its infield in against Evan Rogers, who hit a sharp grounder to second baseman Kyle Reese, who booted the ball, which rolled directly to second base, where shortstop Trevin Sonnier fielded it for a forceout as Hranec scored the game’s first run. Brent Sakurai and Matt Hern followed with singles, the latter making the score 2-0.

“We were able to grind it out and find a way to win, and that’s all that matters,” Gateway manager Phil Warren said. “Those mistakes at third base in extra innings, those were indicative of the mistakes we made early in the year. The difference is now we have the personnel who can overcome those mistakes. That was a huge two-out hit by Hearn that changed the complexion of the bottom of the 12th inning.”

Washington was able to score one run in the 12th but did so without the benefit of a hit. Mike Hill started on second base. He advanced on a flyout by Bralin Jackson and scored on a groundout by Hector Roa.

“We didn’t hit at all, period,” Langbehn said emphatically. “We played well offensively for the last few weeks but it had been multiple-run innings or nothing and that bit us this weekend.”

Gateway improved its record to 16-36 and has a season-high four-game winning streak.

“We’re a different team now,” Warren said. “The record, we still own it, but these players didn’t have it. The guys who did, they’re gone. We’re capable of playing better.”

Washington, meanwhile, will take a season-high three-game losing streak into the all-star break.

“We need to forget about the bats and balls for a few days and come back Friday,” Langbehn said.

That will be difficult because eight Washington players have been selected to participate in the all-star game that will be played Wednesday in Joliet, Ill.

Washington first baseman Kane Sweeney drew a one-out walk in the 12th inning. He has reached base safely in each of the last 13 games and 45 of the last 46. … Former Pirates first baseman Sid Bream threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … The Wild Things are 11-12 against teams from the West Division but 17-10 against the East.