Hinson, Wingnuts Take Down Lincoln

Ryan Hinson tossed six and one-third shutout innings to earn the win, while Josh Dew notched his 22nd save in a Wingnuts' uniform to become the franchise's all-time leader.

Both Hinson and Lincoln starter Tommy Palica pitched well early, and kept the game scoreless through three innings. In the fourth, Wichita used two singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs. David Peralta broke the deadlock with a groundball single through the left side that scored John Rodriguez and C.J. Ziegler. After Salomon Manriquez sacrificed Mitch Einertson to third and Peralta to second, Jake Kahaulelio lined a single to left to make it 3-0.

Wichita added two more in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. Ryan Khoury collected the 500th hit of his professional career with a leadoff triple to right-center field, and scored on Jared McDonal'd hard single through the middle. McDonald stole second base, took third on Ziegler's flyabll to deep left field, and came home when Einertson legged out an infield single with two outs.

Hinson allowed two hits, walked none, and struck out four. Hinson allowed just one runner past first base, and retired 12 straight hitters from the end of the first into the fifth.

Lincoln rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh inning. After Hinson was removed, Leivi Ventura doubled to left-center off of Jared Simon. John Alonso singled up the middle to score Ventura and put Lincoln on the scoreboard. Following a walk to Asif Shah, C.J. Beatty doubled off the left field fence to plate Alonso and cut the lead to 5-2.

Nick Walters relieved Simon and struck out Alan Rick. On the third strike, a passed ball scored Shah and allowed Rick to reach first base. An errant pickoff attempt brought in Beatty and put the tying run on third with one out. Walters then struck out Leugim Barroso and Mike Provencher back-to-back to pin Rick 90 feet from home plate.

The Wingnuts manufactured a key insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Manriquez doubled home Einertson from first base with two outs.

Dew worked a scoreless ninth to close out the game.

Palica took the loss, allowing five earned runs on nine hits in four and one-third innings. Palica walked one and struck out three.

Edgar Martinez pitched a scoreless eighth for Wichita.

The season-opening series continues Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Josh Lowey makes his Wingnuts' debut and faces Lincoln right-hander Ryan Sheldon. Individual tickets can be purchased by calling (316) 755-SEAT, or by visiting www.selectaseat.com

For season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Wingnuts' main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.

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