WASHINGTON STAYS HOT, TAKES-RAIN SHORTENED OPENER - FRONTIER DAILY ROUNDUP
WRITTEN BY: MIKE GUISTOLISE
WILD THINGS CONTINUE ROAD DOMINANCE, TAKE OPENER VS. GRIZZLIES
SAUGET, IL - The Washington Wild Things took a rain-shortened series opener against the Gateway Grizzlies at Grizzlies Ballpark on Tuesday by a final score of 6-1.
The Wild Things (26-13) are now 17-4 on the road, which ranks best in the Frontier League. The Grizzlies (22-17) let the game get out of hand in the first inning, giving up two walks to open the game; CF Caleb McNeely made them pay by crushing an opposite-field three-run home run to put Washington up 3-0. Another walk and a base hit set the Wild Things up for more offense with two outs. 1B Derek Gellos repeated his teammate's effort with a three-run blast, his first of the season and his career. The Grizzlies stumbled from there, not able to get on the board until the fourth inning. Severe weather moved in after the end of the fifth inning, marking an end to the game. RHP Aaron Forrest took the win while RHP Teague Conrad took the loss.
The Wild Things and Grizzlies will play the second game of their series on Wednesday at 11:45 AM EDT.
CAPITALES TAKE DOWN MINERS, INCH CLOSER TO FIRST IN EAST
QUEBEC CITY, CAN. - The Québec Capitales dismantled the Sussex County Miners 6-1 at Stade Canac on Tuesday night.
With the win, Québec (26-14) continues its climb up the Frontier League East division standings and now sits only one game out of first place. The Capitales built a sizeable lead in the second inning, scoring four runs on four hits, including a two-run single from 2B Jesmuel Valentin. The offense went quiet until the eighth inning when Valentin responded to the lone Miner score with another two-run single to expand the lead to 6-1. Sussex County could only counter with a single and two strikeouts in the ninth. LHP Harley Gollert was sharp in his start for the Capitales, allowing only one run on three hits across eight innings and racking up 10 strikeouts. RHP Kellen Brothers took the loss for the Miners.
The Capitales will look to take their eighth consecutive series on Wednesday. First pitch for the middle game is set for 7:05 PM EDT.
CRUSHERS OVERCOME SLOPPY INNING TO BEAT BOLTS
CRESTWOOD, IL - The Lake Erie Crushers came back against the Windy City ThunderBolts and took the opener 11-6 at Ozinga Field on Tuesday night.
The Crushers (25-15) were able to overcome a rough third inning, in which they gave up seven walks and five runs to Windy City (16-25). The ThunderBolts took the initial lead with a home run in the first inning, but 1B Alfredo Gonzalez and DH Vincent Byrd Jr. responded in kind in the third by blasting back-to-back no-doubt home runs to take a 4-1 lead. The fourth inning gave the Bolts a 6-4 lead and saw the departure of starting pitcher Matt Valin. The Crushers began to chip away at the lead after the third ended, scoring one run in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to take a 7-6 lead. Lake Erie then got four runs worth of insurance in the ninth, forcing the Bolts to try and come back from an 11-6 deficit. RHP Trevor Kuncl instead sat Windy City down 1-2-3 to take the opener. RHP Leonardo Rodriguez earned the victory in relief for the Crushers. RHP Will Armbruester took the loss.
The Crushers will attempt to win the series on the road on Wednesday, with first pitch for the middle game scheduled for 11:35 AM EDT.
VALLEYCATS TAKE OPENER VS. AIGLES
TROIS-RIVIERES, CAN. - The Tri-City ValleyCats took down the Trois-Rivières Aigles at Stade Quillorama on Tuesday by a final score of 6-1.
The ValleyCats (19-21) put the Aigles (20-18) in a bind early with a three-run homer from LF Demias Jimerson and refused to let them back in the game from there. Trois-Rivières was able to get on the board with a solo homer in the fifth, but 3B Ian Walters answered back in the sixth with a two-run single to make it 5-1. The ValleyCats tacked on one more run in the eighth for good measure and closed things out with a drama-free ninth inning. LHP Alfredo Ruiz earned his first win of the season behind six strong innings, only allowing one run on two hits. RHP Osman Gutierrez took the loss for Trois-Rivières.
The ValleyCats will look for the series win on the road on Wednesday. First pitch for the middle game is set for 7:05 PM EDT.
TITANS COLLECT 12 HITS TO TAKE DOWN KNOCKOUTS
OTTAWA, CAN. - The Ottawa Titans racked up a dozen hits in their 4-2 victory over the New England Knockouts at Titan Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Titans' (21-17) win puts them one game ahead of the Aigles for third place in the East, while the Knockouts (12-27) are now in last. RF Jackie Urbaez put Ottawa on top in the bottom of the first inning with a solo shot to open the scoring. After an error brought in another run in the third, the Titans expanded their lead to 3-0 on a sacrifice fly from 2B Jason Dicochea. The Knockouts came within one in the top of the fifth, but DH Jamey Smart's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh gave the Titans a little extra breathing room. RHP Erasmo Pinales closed things out in the ninth for save no. 10 on the year. LHP Tyler Jandron earned the win for Ottawa while RHP Liam O'Sullivan took the loss for New England.
The Titans and Knockouts will play the middle game of their series on Wednesday at 6:30 PM EDT.
BOOMERS STAVE OFF Y'ALLS COMEBACK
FLORENCE, KY - The Schaumburg Boomers defeated the Florence Y'alls 8-7 at Thomas More Stadium on Tuesday night.
After taking Monday's game in Schaumburg, the Boomers (25-15) repeated their winning effort against the Y'alls (16-23) on the road. Schaumburg found itself down early after allowing a run to score in the first inning. 1B Kyle Fitzgerald tied the game with a solo blast in the second. The Y'alls would take a temporary lead in the third, but the Boomers posted three runs between the fifth and sixth innings to take it right back. In the ninth, Player of the Week Christian Fedko was able to draw a walk with the bases loaded, making it 6-3. CF Chase Dawson followed with a two-run single that expanded the lead to 8-3. The Y'alls comeback attempt was furious, scoring four runs in the ninth to make it a one-run game, but the Boomers were able to secure the final out and leave the tying run on base to win the game. RHP Aaron Glickstein earned the win for Schaumburg while RHP Dallas Woolfork earned the save. LHP Jonaiker Villalobos took the loss for Florence.
The Boomers will attempt to make it three in a row against the Y'alls on Wednesday. First pitch in Kentucky is scheduled for 11:03 AM EDT.
