Blasters Drop Second Game to Wichita
August 31, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
Despite a three-run first inning, the Joplin Blasters fell for the second day in a row to the Wichita Wingnuts on Tuesday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The 6-3 decision dropped Wichita's magic number to one, but a Laredo victory over Texas denied the Wingnuts the division title, at least for the night.
The Blasters pushed three runs across in the top of the first without needing a hit. The first three hitters of the game all walked, and Mitch Glasser came across the plate on a passed ball. Ermindo Escobar then drove in Geraldo Valentin with a groundout. After a strikeout accounted for the frame's second out, the next three Blasters were also walked. The sixth walk, to Axel Johnson, allowed Edwin Gomez to score and signaled the exit of starter Anthony Capra.
Wichita responded with four runs of their own, taking a lead that would last for the remainder of the contest. The Wingnuts loaded the bases with no outs on a Christian Stringer single, a Zack Cox double, and a walk to Brent Clevlen. T.J. Mittelstaedt drove in Stringer with a fielder's choice, and Matt Chavez followed with a ground-rule double that plated Cox. Nick Van Stratten's RBI groundout tied the score, and a two-out single from Harrison Kain gave Wichita a 4-3 advantage.
In the final eight innings, only two runs were scored, both by the Wingnuts in the bottom of the fifth. Chavez singled and van Stratten doubled with one out in the inning, putting runners on second and third. The double was ruled a ground-rule double upon protest, which led to the ejection of Wichita manager Pete Rose, Jr. Harrison Kain drove both runners with a single against relief pitcher Bobby Orozco.
Joplin's bullpen kept the Blasters within three runs down the stretch, but the offense could not close the gap. Former Major Leaguer Alberto Castillo retired all four hitters he faced, and Keith Picht set down six of seven in the seventh and eighth innings.
Eddie Medina, who came in after Capra's exit, was awarded with the win for the Wingnuts, while Frankie Reed was credited with the save after a scoreless ninth. Alex De La Cruz took his sixth loss of the season over 4.1 innings.
Wichita can win the South Division championship on Wednesday with a win or a loss by Laredo to the Texas AirHogs. The Blasters, looking to deny a Wingnut celebration, send rookie righty Harrison Lee to the mound for the first time. Wichita counters with Tyler Kane, who is making his second start of the season.
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