Wild Things Fall in Middle Game at Normal as Normal Plates Four in Eighth

NORMAL, Il. (July 18) - The Washington Wild Things fell tonight to the Normal CornBelters by the final score of 6-2. With tonight’s loss, the Wild Things move to 31-25 and the CornBelters move to 26-27.

Washington’s center fielder James Harris got the scoring underway with a solo homer to lead off the first inning, slamming the second pitch of the game over the wall to get one on the board for the Wild Things.

Third baseman Jordan Edgerton then added a run for Washington with a home run in the second inning.

The CornBelters were able to cut the Wild Things’ lead in half in the bottom of the third with a single to right field off the bat of center fielder Derrick Loveless. After three scoreless innings, shortstop Santiago Chirino singled to plate catcher Cody Erickson and tie the score at 2-2. In the bottom of the eighth, Normal added four runs on three hits, highlighted by right fielder Nick Cain’s 2-RBI double – to give the CornBelters a 6-2 lead, which would be the final score.

Normal’s Jonathan De Marte got the win for his work during the final two innings of tonight’s game. De Marte allowed one hit and struck out three batters. Washington’s Davis Adkins took the loss, pitching 1.2 innings on the mound. He gave up three hits and four runs, fanned three, and walked two.

The Wild Things and the CornBelters go into tomorrow’s rubber game with one win a piece in the series. The series finale is slated for 8:05 p.m. EDT.