Washington Takes Opener Behind Sixth-Consecutive Quality Start from Cunningham, Middle-Inning Offens

JOLIET, Il. (August 7) - Led by six strong innings from starting pitcher Chase Cunningham, the Wild Things moved into a first-place tie in the East Division with the Joliet Slammers with a 5-2 win at Joliet Route 66 Stadium in Tuesday night’s series opener.

The game was scoreless until Washington drew first blood in the top of the fourth. With two outs and left fielder Roman Collins on first, right fielder Hector Roa hit a ball that was just out of the reach of Slammers' right fielder Travis Bolin to put the Wild Things ahead with a triple.

Washington added on with four runs in the fifth. Center fielder James Harris came up with the bases loaded and one out, and hit a ground ball to shortstop Chaz Meadows, whose throw to second was wide, thus allowing two runs to score. Collins subsequently singled to plate shortstop Brett Marr, pushing the Wild Things lead to 4-0. One batter later, Harris came around to score on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Reydel Medina.

Cunningham ran in to trouble in the sixth, walking the bases loaded and allowing a run to score on a two-out balk. He would limit the damage, however, getting catcher Trey Fulton to ground out to end the threat with the Wild Things up 5-1.

Cunningham (6-4) allowed just one run on one hit over for the win. In five starts since June 29, he has gone at least six frames while allowing no more than three runs. Cunningham also walked five batters and struck out three on the night.

For Joliet, Scot Hoffman (7-4) took the loss, allowing five runs—three earned—over seven innings, on eight hits while walking three and striking out four.

Jesus Balaguer made his Wild Things' debut in relief of Cunningham, and made a solid first impression, allowing just two hits over 2.1 innings and striking out four while giving up a run. Belaguer, born in Cuba, spent over a year in the Houston Astros organization and was signed by Washington today to correspond with reliever Trevor Bradley being placed on the 14-day disabled list.

Zach Strecker replaced Balaguer with two on and one out in the ninth. Although the Slammers would make it 5-2 on a sac fly by shortstop Chaz Meadows, that’s as close as they would get, as Strecker picked up his 17th save.

The Wild Things will look for sole possession of first place in the middle game of the series tomorrow night. First pitch is at 8:05 p.m. ET.