The Washington Wild Things went on to defeat the New Jersey Jackals 8-5 in a heated affair that left fans at Hinchliffe Stadium with a shocking ending.
Neither team could get on the board in the first inning, and until midway through the second inning it seemed it would be more of the same. But the Jackals would score the first run of this contest on a double by Alvaro Gonzalez, allowing their catcher Aneudis Mordan to score, giving New Jersey a 1-0 lead.
After the third inning saw neither unit get a run, Wild Things third baseman Cole Fowler would open the fourth inning with a bang. Fowler crushed a solo home run off the Jackals’ starting pitcher Joe Joe Rodriguez to tie the game.
Washington would own the fifth inning as their second baseman Antonio Monroy kicked it off with a single. Wild Things shortstop Connor Peek delivered a double to put Monroy on third base and himself on first base.
This set the stage for Andrew Czech to produce a three-run home run to center field, giving Washington a 4-1 lead. For the first time in this game, giving either team real separation from the other.
Wild Things continued to extend the lead in the sixth inning, after a wild pitch was charged to Grady Gorgen, allowing Monroy to score. While the seventh inning was a scoreless affair, the eighth inning started with Washington seemingly putting the final nail in the coffin.
Monroy walked to first base after Gorgen missed for ball four. Peek followed with a single, putting Monroy at second base and himself at first base.
Wild Things first baseman Czech recorded his second three-run homer of this game, making Washington’s lead 8-1. This deficit seemed insurmountable for New Jersey to overcome, but they wouldn’t throw in the towel.
Jackals first baseman Felix Stevens started the bottom of the eighth inning with a walk after Eldridge Armstrong III missed for ball four. Leading to Armstrong III having a mound visit and being relieved by Branden Noriega.
Noriega would hit New Jersey’s right fielder Isaac Bellony on his fifth pitch. Bellony would advance to first base, and Stevens went to second base.
Noriega missed for ball four, allowing Gonzalez to walk and load up the bases. Gustavo Sosa would get the Jackals a score for the first time since the second inning.
Sosa delivered an RBI single, creating the opportunity for Stevens to score. After a passed ball by Noriega let Bellony go from third base to home plate, the deficit was cut to 8-3.
Jackals center fielder DeAmez Ross would then record his own RBI single, letting Gonzalez score. Following that play, Martin Figueroa and Sosa executed a double steal, bringing Sosa back to home plate, shortening Washington’s lead to 8-5.
New Jersey had the bases loaded and two outs, as Stevens went up to hit. After hitting a ground ball, Flower would throw to the first baseman, pulling his teammate off the bag.
At first it appeared the inning was extended; instead, Figueroa was called for interference while he was heading towards third base. Jackals head coach Bobby Jones was furious.
As quickly as Jones argued with the refs, he was ejected from the game even quicker. In the ninth inning, the Wild Things retired the side, going on to win this game 8-5.
