Striz signed by Sox

According to the Twitter accounts of Matt McConnell and Chris Smith, Wild Things closer Nate Striz (pictured) had his contract putchased by the Boston Red Sox.

Striz has a 2-1 record, 3 saves and a 1.46 ERA in nine games with the Wild Things. He has 17 strikeouts and only one walk in 12.1 innings.

Striz pitched 1.1 hitless innings Friday night in Washington's 3-2 win at Florence.

This brings to five the number of former Wild Things in affiliated ball. Striz joins Tom Cochran (Lehigh Valley, Triple-A Phillies), Vidal Nuno (Trenton, Double-A Yankees), Alan Williams (Brevard County, Single-A Brewers) and Mark Williams (Wisconsin, Single-A Brewers).

Ello, mate

Wild Things manager Chris Bando said he would use the exhibition games to settle roster battles at multiple positions, including the outfield spots. It was apparent from talking to Bando that he has not been satisfied with his group of outfielders, and the first three exhibition games did little to determine who should open the season in which spots.

That might be why Washington signed outfielder Mitch Dening (pictured) to a contract Saturday. The left-handed hitting Dening is a native of Toowoon Bay, Australia, and he played last year at Class AA Portland in the Boston Red Sox system. Dening was released by the Red Sox in March at the end of spring training.

Dening was signed by Boston at the age of 17. He hit .264 with 24 doubles in Class A at age 20 and played for Australia in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. His career with the Red Sox stalled last year at Double-A when he batted only .220, but he did get 264 at-bats.