Wild Things’ comeback falls short at Joliet
JOLIET, Ill. – Liam O’Sullivam took a shutout into the seventh inning as the Joliet Slammers defeated the Wild Things 7-5 Thursday night in the series finale at Route 66 Stadium.
Joliet, which won two of the three games in the series, jumped on Washington starter Mike Anthony (0-2) early, forging a 4-0 lead in the second inning.
That was enough of a lead for O’Sullivan (1-2) and two relievers who protected the lead the rest of the way. O’Sullivan allowed eight hits but did not walk a batter. He struck out two.
Washington scored its first run in the seventh inning when Roman Collins led off with his third home run of the season, a shot to straightaway center field. A double by Reydel Medina later in the seventh and run-scoring single by Hector Roa pulled the Wild Things to within 4-2.
Joliet, however, scored three times in the bottom of the seventh off relievers Nick Wegmann and Trevor Bradley. Joliet’s Zanny Zardon hit a two-run homer that made it 7-2.
Washington knocked O’Sullivan out of the game in the eighth, and RBI singles by James Harris, Carter McEachern and Collins cut Joliet’s lead to 7-5.
The Wild Things loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth but a strikeout and groundout ended the game.
Washington begins a weekend series tonight in Crestwood, Ill., against the Windy City ThunderBolts.