LaRoche's Walk-Off Blast Helps Nuts Sink Saints 6-5
August 26, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (August 25, 2015) - The home run was a prominent feature in Tuesday night's showdown between the Wichita Wingnuts and St. Paul Saints at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The teams combined to hit five of them, but it was the final one that left the biggest impression. In the ninth inning, Andy LaRoche lifted a 3-2 pitch from Ryan Rodebaugh over the left field wall to break a 5-5 tie and win the game for the Wingnuts.
St. Paul (64-24) was the first team to reach the scoreboard. In the second frame, Ian Gac led off with a ground rule double over the head of Harrison Kain. Nate Hanson followed with an infield single to move runners to the corners. A ground ball to the right side from Joey Paciorek would turn into a fielder's choice and bring in the first run of the game.
The Wingnuts (54-34) were able to take their first lead in the bottom of the fourth. LaRoche tied the score with leadoff home run, his third of the season. The long ball was followed by back-to-back base hits by T.J. Mittelstaedt and John Nester. A sacrifice bunt from Kain moved both runners into scoring position. Leo Vargas took advantage by driving in his seventh run of the season with a sacrifice fly to right that put the Wingnuts up 2-1.
The Saints quickly responded in the top half of the fifth. Paciorek and Anthony Phillips reached to open the frame on a single and a walk. Dan Kaczrowski advanced the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Alonzo Harris worked the count full against Tim Brown before shooting a two-RBI single to right that put St. Paul on top once again. The next batter, Willie Argo, added a solo home run to increase the lead to 4-2.
Nick Van Stratten opened the bottom half of the same inning with a single. He moved to second when Andy Phillips threw the ball of the runner's helmet trying to double him up on a line drive. With two outs, Laroche extended the inning by working a walk. Mittelstaedt followed with his team-leading 14th round-tripper of the season, a go-ahead three-run blast to right.
A two out home run from Harris, his second of the series, tied the score in the top of the seventh and set the stage for the dramatic finish. David Espinosa flied out to the warning track as the first batter of the stanza before LaRoche's winner.
Alex Boshers (3-2) pitched two scoreless innings to come away with the victory. The teams combined for 21 hits and seven different players had more than one. John Nester was the only hitter with three.
The Wingnuts will set their sights on a sweep of the Saints on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Jason Van Skike (7-5) will take the mound in a battle with St. Paul RHP Robert Coe (9-3). This Way-Back Wednesday will take fans back to the 1950's so general admission tickets are just 50 cents. 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. 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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