The New Hampshire Wild have now lost for the fourth straight game as they open their Empire League season.

The team headed into the day with an 0-2 record before continuing their previous game against the Watertown Bucks, in which the Wild were down 7-0 in the third inning when the game was postponed due to rain. Jeremy Charles, who was the original starter for game 3 and continued pitching the following day, was tossed out of the game in the fifth inning after being caught with pine tar on his left hand. Manager Jerry Gonzalez wasn’t very happy with Charles’ decision, as the team is already very limited in the bullpen.

“It was a dumb move on Jerm’s part. He made a really big mistake and it cost the team a lot. We will have to see what the league says on this and go from there,” Gonzalez said.

Although the Wild ended up losing the game 8-6, Gonzalez was pleased with how the team ended the game. After being down 7-0 in the third, the Wild bullpen allowed just one run the rest of the game and the offense continued to produce close to their average of seven runs per game. The team’s sign of life to finish that game was important to Gonzalez.

“Tough game, but the way we finished has me excited for what we are about to start doing,” he said. “We aren’t there yet, but we are close. I believe in my guys and we will be fine. It’s only the fourth game of the season.”

In the second game of the day against the Bucks, Wild starter Jason Harper gave up eight quick runs in just four innings of work. Four of the runs came in just one swing of the bat, as Elliot Armstrong of the Bucks connected for a grand slam.

As they did in the earlier game, the Wild fought back and were close to tying the game with just one swing of the bat. But the game was just out of reach.

“We have to be better pitching,” said Gonzalez. “Yes, we made a couple defensive mistakes but right now we average way too many hits, walks and runs given up a game. Our guys need to step it up.” 

The Wild have given up a league most 49 hits, 29 walks and 39 runs allowed – a big reason for the team’s recent failures.