Nuts Stave off Late Lincoln Push to Take Game 1 of Championship Series
September 11, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
LINCOLN, NE - The Wichita Wingnuts took control of the first game in the American Association's Championship Series by a 10-0 score on Wednesday night at Haymarket Park thanks to the efforts of Tim Brown and David Espinosa. After a resurgent eighth inning that pulled Lincoln within three runs, the Nuts settled down and emerged with a crucial 11-7 win.
As opposed to each game in the Divisional Series against Laredo, it was the Wingnuts who scored a first inning run to take the lead. Ryan Khoury singled to start the game, stole second, moved to third on a deep fly ball by Chris McClendon, and then tagged and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Espinosa.
Espinosa provided another run in the third inning off of Saltdogs' starter Marquis Fleming (1-1), but that was just the start of his productive night. In that frame both Jake Luce and Khoury drew free passes and were bunted into scoring position by McClendon. Espinosa grounded a ball softly to first base which plated Luce and made it 2-0.
Chris McMurray singled home a run in the fourth to extend the lead to 3-0 before a crooked number in the fifth made the lead more comfortable. Fleming walked both Khoury and Espinosa to put two on with one out. The next three hitters: Brent Clevlen, Abel Nieves, and Carlo Testa each drove in runs with RBI singles to push the advantage to 6-0.
More runs in both the sixth and seventh innings put Wichita on top by double digits. Espinosa completed his five-RBI day by ripping a three run home run to deep right field that made the lead 9-0. In the latter frame, McClendon split the left center gap with a double after back-to-back base hits by Luce and Khoury to raise the lead to 10-0.
While the offensive exploits were putting Lincoln in a hole, Brown (2-0), the Nuts' starter was not helping them in their efforts to dig out of it. The right-hander allowed a pair of early base hits, but then managed to hold the Saltdogs hitless for four straight innings while never allowing a run. He departed after seven shutout innings with a pitch count of just 81 and gave up only three hits. Brown has allowed just two runs and seven hits in his 14 playoff innings on the hill.
Matt Robertson came out of the bullpen to work the eighth and in their first chance to see somebody besides Brown the Lincoln bats heated up. A walk and an error started the inning, before the Saltdogs reeled off four straight hits to force Robertson from the contest. Mike Gilmartin hit a grand slam along the way to cut the lead to 10-4. Daniel Bennett entered with two base runners on and allowed a two-RBI single to Ian Gac and a run-scoring single by Brandon Pinckney before ending the inning with two runners still aboard. Lincoln had pulled to within 10-7.
The Wingnuts' offense was able to battle back and bring in a big run for insurance purposes in the top of the ninth. With two outs David Amberson walked, Jared McDonald bunted for a single, and Nieves walked to load the bases. Testa knocked in a run with an infield single to stretch the margin to 11-4.
In the bottom of the inning, Chase Johnson worked a one, two, three stanza to secure the victory in the championship opener.
Four Wingnuts were able to muster multiple hits, while only one starter did not tally a base hit. Wichita racked up 15 hits for the first time in the post-season after reaching that mark 17 times in regular play.
Game two will also be in Lincoln on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. LHP Anthony Capra (0-1) will make his second playoff start against fellow southpaw Kevin McGovern of the Saltdogs. 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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American Association Stories from September 11, 2014
- American Association Game Recap - AA
- Nuts Stave off Late Lincoln Push to Take Game 1 of Championship Series - Wichita Wingnuts
- Nuts Avoid Meltdown, Take Lead in AACS - Lincoln Saltdogs
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