07/06/2007

Bums get blanked by Wild Things

TC limited to four hits in loss

FROM STAFF REPORTS

WASHINGTON, Pa. — So much for showing some rust.

Newly-acquired left-hand pitcher Alan Stidfole made his first professional start and first appearance in more than a year a memorable one as the Washington Wild Things blanked the Traverse City Beach Bums 6-0 on Thursday.

Stidfole allowed just two hits and struck out three batters in five innings against the Beach Bums (15-27). Three relievers finished off the final four innings of the four-hit shutout after a rain delay of nearly an hour.

Eastern Division leading Washington (25-16) got on the board in the bottom of the third inning on a RBI groundout by Jarod Rine.

The Wild Things, winners of six straight, really broke the game open with three runs in the fourth inning on three hits and a sacrifice fly.

Pat O'Brien had a RBI single and Kyle Padgett followed later with a sacrifice fly. O'Brien came around to score on a wild pitch by Traverse City starter Ryan Gehring (2-5).

Washington added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Nathan Messner had a sacrifice fly in the seventh while Kyle Weman plated the final run for the Wild Things with a single in the eighth.

Jeff Brown had two of the four hits for Traverse City. Rob Vernon had three hits and Matt Sutton two to pace Washington.