WASHINGTON, Pa. (August 5, 2026) – The Down East Bird Dawgs steal game two from Washington after a two-double, 5 RBI, and a sudden death home run performance from All-Star Christian Adams to take a 9-6 win over the Wild Things on Wednesday night. Down East and Washington combined for 27 hits and 20 strikeouts in the middle game of the three-game set.

In his first game back in ten days, Adams began the scoring in the top of the third inning with an RBI double down the right field line to score Trey Law from second to take a 1-0 lead.

A duo of singles and an error by Kenny Levari allowed Washington to tie the game 1-1 after three.

In the fifth, Adams’ second double of the game scored leadoff man Stephen DiTomaso from first to give the 2-1 lead and momentum back to Down East.

That momentum stayed with Down East into the sixth. Catcher Tyler Blaum hit his second home run of the season over the left field wall to score Jacob Corson and Yeniel Laboy to extend the Bird Dawgs lead to 5-1.

It would prove to be a busy sixth as Washington turned around to tie the game, capped off by an Andrew Czech 3-run home run to right field.

Greg Martinez was brought in to replace Miguel Cirino in the seventh with the game tied, and threw one of the most impressive outings by a Down East relief pitcher this season. He struck out all three batters in the seventh and added one more in the eighth while forcing two groundouts as well. Tanner Duncan forced the game into extras in the ninth.

Yeniel Laboy hit a single up the gut to score Corson from second to give Down East a one-run advantage in the top frame of extras. It was the only run of the inning for the Bird Dawgs and allowed the Wild Things to get one back in the bottom half off an infield single to make it 6-6.

Under Frontier League rules, once the game reaches the 11th inning, the sudden-death rule is introduced. The home team determines if it will play offense or defense, and they play a half-inning. If the fielding team gets three outs without allowing any runs, then they take the win. The team that is hitting is given a baserunner at first base with no outs, and if they score a run, then they win the game.

Washington elected to pitch. Kalae Harrison walked to put two runners on with one out, and up came Christian Adams, who hit a home run deep to right-center to end the game with an exclamation point.

Tanner Duncan earned the win (3-1) after an impressive ninth and tenth, where he struck out one and gave up zero earned runs.

Down East (32-42) will play Washington in the rubber match tomorrow, Thursday, August 6, at 7:05 ET at EQT Park.

Written by Colt Easterling, edited by Spencer Pattison.