Medina Hits Two Home Runs, Leads Washington to Win in Series Finale
- Joe Smeltzer
- Jun 3, 2018
- 2 min read
CRESTWOOD, Il (June 3) — Coming into the second game of this weekend’s three-game series with the Windy City ThunderBolts (8-11), Wild Things’ first baseman Reydel Medina's batting average was below .300. As of Washington's 7-1 win Sunday afternoon, Medina is now hitting .347, going 3-4 Saturday and 4-5 with two home runs and five RBI today, as he led the offense in an 8-1 rout of the ThunderBolts to give Washington a series win.
Washington’s offensive outburst was more than enough for starting pitcher Chase Cunningham, and the Wild Things (12-9) ended their six-game road trip on a high note.
It didn't take long for Washington to get going against Windy City starter Zac Westcott. The Wild Things drew first blood four batters in when with two outs and second baseman Brett Marr on first, catcher Kyle Pollock started the scoring with a double. Just one batter later, Medina's first home run of the day and second of the season made the score 3-0, where it would stay until the top of the fifth.
In the fifth, Medina's second two-run shot made it 5-0, and right fielder Hector Roa followed with a solo homer— his second of the season— to make it 6-0.
The ThunderBolts finally broke through against Cunningham in the bottom of the sixth, when first baseman Larry Balkwill doubled home third baseman Tyler Straub. The run not only ruined Cunningham's scoreless outing but also ended his streak of 27.1 shutout innings at Standard Bank Stadium, dating back to August 2016. Despite the streak ending, Cunningham picked up his first win of 2018, improving to 1-2. Over six frames, he allowed one earned run on three hits with three walks and one strikeout.
The Wild Things added insurance in the top of the 8th with Pollock’s second RBI double of the day, again scoring Marr. Three batters later, third baseman Mike Hill drove home Pollock with a single to make it 8-1. Hill went 2-4 on the day with a walk and an RBI.
For Windy City, Westcott fell to 0-4 on the season. Over five innings, Westcott allowed six earned runs on eight hits while walking and striking out five batters each.
The Wild Things will return to It's About the Warrior Field at Wild Things Park Tuesday, starting a six-game homestand with the first of three against the Traverse City Beach Bums. First pitch is at 7:05.
