Things rally to defeat Normal
Washington catcher Kyle Pollock tags out Normal’s Justin Fletcher during Thursday’s game.
Wild Things pitcher Chase Cunningham throws in a pitch during Thursday’s game against the Cornbelters.
In this file photo, Wild Things’ Hector Roa swings at a pitch.
Washington’s Rashad Brown shakes hands with the Wild Thing before a gameagainst Normal. Brown batted .275 last season and led the team in runs and stolen bases.
Opportunity knocked, and knocked and knocked.
And before the Normal CornBelters could board their bus and leave Washington with a series sweep, the Wild Things’ hitters finally answered and snatched a much-needed victory from the jaws of defeat.
James Harris hit a go-ahead, two-run single in Washington’s six-run bottom of the eighth inning Thursday night, Hector Roa homered and drove in four runs and the Wild Things rallied for a 10-6 victory.
The win put an end to Washington’s four-game losing streak and gave the Wild Things some much-needed momentum heading into a six-game road trip that begins tonight in Sauget, Ill., against the Gateway Grizzlies, and continues next week at Traverse City, Mich.
“This will make the beginning of our brutal road trip a little easier,” Washington manager Gregg Langbehn said.
Roa had a two-run double in Washington’s big eighth inning that erased a 6-4 deficit. Roa, who was 3-for-5 with four RBI, hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning. It was his 10th home run of the season.
“I’ve said before that this is a team that never gives up. We’re always grinding,” Roa said.
It was the 19th come-from-behind win for Washington (34-29).
Davis Adkins (3-1), the third of four Washington pitchers, was the winner, throwing 1 2/3 innings of relief.
The Wild Things had plenty of opportunities to win the series finale but had nothing to show for them through seven innings. Washington hitters were 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position before third baseman Kenny Peoples-Walls, after failing to put down a sacrifice bunt, laced a run-scoring double to right centerfield that drove in Mike Hill and cut Normal’s lead to 6-5 in the eighth inning.
Kyle Reese was then intentionally walked to load the bases and James Harris, the former first-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays, lined a two-run single up the middle off Normal closer Shawn Blackwell that gave Washington its first lead of the night at 7-6.
“It was a frustrating night,” Langbehn admitted. “I could talk about all the things that didn’t go right for seven innings, but we found a way to finally take advantage of some walks.
“I’ll focus on the positive, which is we got the job done when we needed it the most. These last three series have been a rollercoaster of emotions, up and down.”
Two batters after Harris’ big hit, and with the bases loaded again, a wild pitch allowed Reese to score from third base and make it an 8-6 game. Before the inning ended, Roa ripped a two-run double to the wall in left centerfield and suddenly Washington had a 10-6 lead.
After struggling for seven innings, Washington hitters were 3-for-5 with runners in scoring position during the eighth, which made for a much happier clubhouse after the game.
“Once we touched the second half of the season, then every game is important,” Roa said. “It was important that we finish strong in this series and it’s important that we finish with a good road trip.”
Nolan Meadows, the Frontier League home run leader last season, and Jesus Solorzano each homered for Normal, helping the CornBelters forge a 5-2 lead in the fifth inning. Meadows also delivered a run-scoring single with two outs in the top of the eighth that gave the CornBelters a 6-4 lead and appeared to be the hit that would bury the Wild Things.
Jonathan De Marte (0-1), a rookie out of the University of Richmond, was the losing pitcher. He walked Hill and Kyle Pollock to begin the bottom of the eighth.
Prior to the game, Washington released pitcher Joe Ravert (1-1, 5.06) and signed pitchers Ethan Gibbon and Jacob Condra-Bogan. Gibbon was claimed off waivers from Southern Illinois and Condra-Bogan is a rookie out of Georgia Southern. Condra-Bogan made his professional debut in the sixth inning in relief of starter Chase Cunningham and retired two of the four batters he faced. Gibbon is scheduled to start Saturday at Gateway. … Reese was 2-for-3 with a triple and three runs. Harris was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI.