Bats Break out in 13-3 Victory over Joplin
May 17, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (May 17, 2015) - A day off apparently does the bats of the Wichita Wingnuts well. After having their originally scheduled Saturday night exhibition game with the Joplin Blasters postponed because of rain, the offense was clicking on all cylinders Sunday afternoon. Wichita took advantage of a seven-hit, five-run first inning to cruise to a 13-3 win.
After Wingnuts starter Tim Brown faced the minimum in the first inning, the bats immediately went on the attack. Luis Hernandez, Alberto Gonzalez, T.J. Mittelstaedt, Dustin Geiger, David Espinosa, and John Nester all hit safely in consecutive at bats against Joplin starter Raydel Sanchez to begin the inning. Each of them were singles, aside from a double down the left field line from Gonzalez.
The score remained 5-0 until the Blasters put a crooked number on the board in the fourth. Austin Gallagher began the inning with a double. Jesus Solorzano drove him in with an RBI single and scored himself on an ensuing double by Steve Tinoco. Mitch Glasser cut the deficit to 5-3 with an RBI single of his own before the third out was recorded.
After the fourth inning Brown, Daniel Bennett, Jarret Leverett, Brad Mincey, Al Yevoli, and Matt Nevarez combined to shut down the Blasters the rest of the way, each allowing only one hit.
The Wingnuts added to their lead in the fourth with three runs, two of them unearned, against reliever Anthony Ferrara. Brent Dean doubled to begin the frame and was joined on base by Jayce Ray who walked. Taylor Oldham laid down a bunt to try and advance the runners, but Ferrara's throw to first was off target and resulted in a run scoring and runners moving to second and third. Hernandez took advantage by driving in a pair on his second hit of the game to make it 8-3. The shortstop was a perfect 3-3 at the plate.
Espinosa scored Kori Melo with an RBI single in the sixth before turning the keys to the offense over to catcher John Nester the rest of the way. Nester launched the Nuts first home run of the spring, a three-run shot immediately following Espinosa's hit, to increase the advantage to 12-3. Two innings later, the backstop did it again with a solo bomb to left center, resulting in the final 13-3 margin.
The exhibition season continues on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. with a home game against the Kansas City T-Bones. The eighth season of Wichita Wingnuts baseball begins on Thursday, May 21st in Joplin, with the home opener against the Winnipeg Goldeyes taking place on Tuesday, May 26th. 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 May 17, 2015
- Goldeyes Chew up T-Bones - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Bats Break out in 13-3 Victory over Joplin - Wichita Wingnuts
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