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Wichita Navigates Past Explorers 8-5 to Close out Season Sweep

July 20, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WICHITA, KS (July 20, 2014) - The Wichita Wingnuts and Sioux City Explorers met on the diamond six times in 2014. Three were in Iowa and three were in Kansas. Most were played at night, one during the day. There were high-scoring and low-scoring battles, but in the end one thing held true. At the conclusion of every ballgame it was the Wingnuts who were on top in the runs column. They completed a sweep of the season-series with an 8-5 victory on Sunday afternoon.

Right-hander Jason Van Skike (8-2) was on the hill for the Wingnuts and doing battle with recently acquired lefty Lars Ligouri of Sioux City (25-37). Both pitchers got off to a good start, holding the opposing offense scoreless through three. Ligouri (0-1) was impressive, holding the potent Wichita offense hitless one time through the lineup. His team would give him a lead by scoring a pair of runs in the fourth. Van Skike walked Michael Lang to begin the frame and then gave up an opposite-field single by Rene Tosoni. Lang went first to third on the play with a throw from David Amberson sailing high above him and into the seats along the left field line. The errant toss handed Lang home plate and moved to Tosoni to third. He would also score on a single by Andres Perez to go in front 2-0.

It didn't take long for the Wingnuts (43-18) to answer back. In the bottom of the inning, Ligouri retired the first two batters before Jake Kahaulelio doubled. The following hitter, Brent Clevlen, singled him home for his 43rd RBI of the year. Clevlen then stole second and moved to third when shortstop Chris Escobar committed an error on the play. Carlo Testa then grounded a ball that hopped off the first base bag and into right field to score his outfield partner and tie the game at 2-2.

The Wingnuts brought the lumber in the fifth inning, which helped them pull away. Trevor Whyte ripped a ground rule double to right and then moved to third on a single by David Amberson. Ryan Khoury broke the tie with a fielder's choice bouncer to short that brought Whyte home. Chris McClendon walked to put two on with one out, before the two speedy runners completed a double steal to move into scoring position. Kahaulelio scored one of them with a double and then with runners on the corners, Clevlen hooked a breaking ball inside the foul pole in left for a three-run home run that put Wichita in command 7-2. The long ball was the eighth of the season for the center fielder who went 3-4 with four RBI on the day.

The Nuts added their final run in the sixth. Brent Dean began the inning by singling up the middle. He moved to third on a fielder's choice and then came around to score on a line drive single up the middle by Khoury.

The Explorers scored a run in Van Skike's final inning on the bump. Amos Ramon led off the seventh with a double, tagged up on a fly ball to right by Tommy Mendonca, and then scored on an RBI groundout by Dillon Usiak to make it 8-3. The starter completed the quality start having allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings and striking out four. Wingnuts' starters have earned quality starts in 37 of the 61 games this season.

Matt Robertson gave up two runs in the eighth, which made it a save situation for Matt Nevarez in the top of the ninth. With one out Mendonca doubled and Usiak drew a base on balls to bring the tying run to the plate. That is where Nevarez stopped the comeback attempt by striking out Chris Escobar and Oscar Mesa back-to-back to end the game and earn his 17th save of the year.

The Wingnuts tied the franchise record for stolen bases in a game with seven. Amberson had two and McClendon, Kahaulelio, Clevlen, Testa, and Dean each had one. Amberson and Kahaulelio joined Clevlen with multiple base hits in the matinee.

The Wingnuts open a four-game series with the second-place Laredo Lemurs on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. inside Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. RHP Jon Link (7-3) will face a Laredo pitcher to be named. It is a Kwik Shop Dollar Day so make sure to swing by your local Kwik Shop and pick up a $1 general admission ticket to the game. For information on 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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