Washington Misses Out on Sweep with 6-2 Loss to Schaumburg, Still Leads East Division

WASHINGTON, Pa. (Aug. 23) - The Washington Wild Things could not get the bats going against Schaumburg Boomers’ starter Kit Fowler (2-7) as the team was unable to sweep the series on Thursday after it fell 6-2. However, Washington did manage to secure its eighth-straight series win by winning two out of three.

The Wild Things remain in first place in the Eastern Division, leading Joliet by a game after the Slammers fell 3-0 tonight. The magic number to clinch the East Division is down to eight, while the magic number to clinch a playoff berth is at five.

After both team’s first three batters were retired, Schaumburg (43-44) was able to plate two runs in the second inning after a two-run blast from third baseman Kenny Towns.

Washington (50-37) responded immediately in the bottom of the frame with second baseman Carter McEachern knocking in right fielder Hector Roa after Roa tripled to lead off the inning.

The scoring resumed in the fifth inning after Wild Things' starter Michael Austin got himself into a jam. With the bases loaded, Boomers center fielder Sean Godfrey was able to work a walk to push another run across. Faced with a similar bases loaded situation, designated hitter Ty Moore hit into a fielder’s choice that knocked in a run, but a throwing error on the play allowed one more run to cross to bring the score to 5-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Wild Things continued their comeback after Roa recorded an RBI fielder’s choice of his own that scored third baseman Ramsey Romano to make it 5-2.

In the sixth, Schaumburg was able to take back its four-run advantage after catcher Nick Oddo hit a solo home run to make it 6-2. That would turn out to be the last run of the game as neither team could plate any more runs after the sixth.

Wild Things starter Michael Austin tossed six innings and gave up six runs, with five of them being earned. After that, the bullpen took over and tossed a combined three scoreless innings. Roa had two triples, an RBI and a run scored as a part of a 2-4 night.

The Wild Things are back in action tomorrow when they open up a three-game series with the Lake Erie Crushers. Right hander Jake Belinda is set to take the mound for Washington. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.