Opportunity Knocks and Wingnuts Answer in 10-Inning Victory
August 27, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
GRAND PRAIRIE, TX (August 26, 2014) - For a period of time on Tuesday night at QuikTrip Park in Grand Prairie, it appeared that neither the Wichita Wingnuts nor Grand Prairie AirHogs would find a way to break a 3-3 tie. Both teams squandered multiple opportunities in the late innings with runners in scoring position before a clutch swing by Chris McMurray in the first extra frame tipped the scale in their favor 4-3.
Grand Prairie (40-55) struck first in the third inning against Wingnuts starter Celson Polanco. Ryan Gasporra and Eric Baker, the eight and nine hitters, each ripped a single to start the frame. After a failed sacrifice bunt attempt by Alex Nunez, McMurray gunned down Baker trying to advance to third. Brian Peterson singled to put runners on the corners for the biggest threat in the AirHogs lineup, Jason Botts. The former big leaguer hooked a double into the right field corner to put the home squad in front 1-0.
The Wingnuts took no time at all to answer with a run in the top of the fourth against Ryan Searle. Abel Nieves earned a leadoff walk in front of two straight singles by Carlo Testa and McMurray. Chris McClendon hit a bouncer to second that was gloved and pitched to the shortstop for one out. The relay throw from Miguel Castano sailed out of reach of the first baseman which allowed for two runs to cross and Wichita to grab a 2-1 advantage.
With Polanco still continuing to work in the sixth, the Airhogs came up with a big inning. Botts and Brian Myrow ripped back-to-back singles to start the stanza and were moved into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt by Matt Burns. Frazier Hall tied the game with a run-scoring fielder's choice and then Castano chopped a ball high off the turf and over the head of McClendon at third to make it 3-2.
Once again the Nuts were quick to regroup and even the score. In the top of the next inning, David Espinosa roped a ball into the right center gap for his league-leading 16th triple of the year. Adding to the knock was the fact that Jared McDonald was on base and raced around from first to score after singling with two outs.
At that point the missed opportunities came fast and furious. Wichita had runner on third with one out in the eighth after an error and wild pitch, but that threat ended with two ground balls right at infielders. Grand Prairie put a runner on third with one out in the bottom half, but a failed suicide squeeze bunt attempt let the air out of that balloon. In the top of the ninth, the Nuts put runners on first and third with nary out because of a big mistake by the opposing defense. However, a caught stealing, strikeout, and groundout ended the inning with no advancement.
Finally, the visitors grabbed an opportunity by the horns in the top of the tenth against Dakota Watts (0-4). Victor Diaz and Nieves singled at the outset and moved up 90 feet on a throwing error by the catcher, Peterson. Testa struck out for the first out, but McMurray put good wood on a fly ball to right that was deep enough to score a tagging Ryan Khoury, who had pinch run for Diaz. That run put the Wingnuts in the driver's seat at 4-3.
Dan Sattler came on and walked the first batter he faced on four pitches. That was the only blip on the screen though, as the closer fanned the next two batters and then got a fly ball to right to secure the win. The save was his 21st of the season.
The win means that at the worst the Wingnuts (68-27) will tie their 2013 win total, which is the best in American Association history. Mike Zouzalik (4-0) retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to earn the win. Espinosa stretched his hit streak to 12 with a fifth inning single, tying him with McClendon for the longest of the season. Nieves came through with three more hits as his streak reached eight. He is hitting over .600 since returning to Wichita.
The season-finale between the two clubs is set for Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Tim Brown (10-4) will be on the hill for the Nuts against RHP Danny Gutierrez (3-6) of the AirHogs. 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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