Wild Things

If the Wild Things are going get involved in the playoff race in the Frontier League's East Division, then they'll have to take the advice of a noted rock-and-roller and baseball philosopher.
It was Meatloaf, the rotund singer who more than three decades ago opined that "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad." That has become the Wild Things' catchphrase. The goal is to win each three-game series and check the standings at season's end.
Washington won its first post-all-star break series Sunday night, using a five-RBI game from catcher Blake Ochoa to defeat the Lake Erie Crushers 6-5.
Washington won the final two games of the series and built some momentum heading into a six-game trip that begins tonight in Traverse City.
"We don't need sweeps. We just have to win two out of three," Washington manager Darin Everson said. "We've been preaching that, and the guys have been talking about it. Two out of three - that's the key."On this night, Ochoa's bat was the key.
Ochoa hit a grand slam in the sixth inning off Lake Erie reliever Kelyn Schellenberger that gave the Wild Things a 5-3 lead.
After Lake Erie tied it at 5-5 on Andrew Davis' two-run homer, Ochoa put a single just inside the first-base bag that scored Eric Stephens from second base with the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
"We just wanted to win the series," said Ochoa, who entered the game with a .194 batting average but came through with a 2-for-4 night.
"I feel like I'm starting to see the ball better the last three games. I came early to the field and took some extra batting practice. I want to get better with my offense and call good pitches."
Washington's win put a damper on the start of Lake Erie pitcher Randy Sturgill. A lefty who holds most of California University's pitching records, Sturgill made his third professional start. The Leechburg native gave up one run and five hits in four innings before being replaced after throwing 71 pitches.
Lake Erie manager John Massarelli plans to go with a four-man rotation for the rest of the season, and wants to use Sturgill and right-hander Tommie Campbell in the same game to limit their workload.

"We really like Sturgill," Massarelli said. "With a four-man rotation, and he and Campbell both having played college ball this year, we don't want to run up their pitch counts."
Massarelli said he'll flip the combination in each outing. Campbell will start in four days with Sturgill set for relief. Sturgill will get his next start when the Crushers return to Consol Energy Park next week.
Washington starter Justin Hall pitched seven strong innings, but gave up a two-run homer to Jason Taylor in the sixth that gave the Crushers a 3-1 lead.
Washington rallied against Lake Erie's usually reliable bullpen. Campbell gave up a one-out single to Doug Thennis in the sixth and Tim Battle walked. Kelyn Schellenberger, who had an 0.61 ERA, was then brought in to pitch. He got pinch-hitter Eric Stephens to hit what looked like a double-play grounder, but a bad throw to second base left all runners safe and the bases loaded.
Ochoa then worked the count to 3-1 before driving a pitch just over the wall in left centerfield for a grand slam and 5-3 lead.
"The interesting thing is Ochoa caught (Schellenberger) in the All-Star Game last week," Everson pointed out. "Blake had a report on him."
Ochoa said, "I had been getting a lot of breaking balls, but on 3-1 you're not looking for a breaking ball. I got a fastball and tried to elevate it."
Lake Erie made it 5-5 when Davis, who was a double shy of hitting for the cycle, smacked a two-run homer off reliever Steve Grife (1-0), who was making his Wild Things debut.
Stephens then opened the bottom of the eighth with a double, which rolled to the right-field wall, off Chris Allen (1-2). Ochoa followed with his well-placed single up the first-base line.
"That was a unique game for us because we were able to come back twice," Everson said. "We had come back once in games, but not twice late."