Wingnuts Game Notes: August 31 vs. Joplin
August 31, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA MAKES IT 3 STRAIGHT
The Wichita Wingnuts won their third straight and improved to 4-1 on their final homestand of the regular season Tuesday, knocking off the Joplin Blasters 6-3 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. For the second straight evening it was the visitors who took an early lead, as Joplin scored three times in the opening inning. The Blasters took advantage of six first inning walks, scoring their three runs without the benefit of a hit as a passed ball, ground out, and bases loaded free pass brought in the three tallies. Wichita had an answer in the bottom half. With the bases loaded and nobody out, T.J. Mittelstaedt got the Wingnuts on the board with a fielder's choice. Matt Chavez followed with an RBI double and Nick Van Stratten tied it up with an RBI groundout. Harrison Kain then gave Wichita the lead with a run-scoring single. Kain added two more on another single in the fifth, accounting for the final runs of the evening. After starter Anthony Capra struggled, Eddie Medina stepped up and threw four and a third innings of scoreless relief to earn the win, and put Wichita on the brink of a South Division title.
BULLPEN COMES UP BIG
With starter Anthony Capra taken out in the first inning last night, the Wichita bullpen was called upon to soak up eight and a third innings. The relief corps came through in a big way, starting with righty Eddie Medina, who was the first reliever to enter the fray. A starter for much of the year, Medina worked four and a third scoreless frames, scattering four hits and earning the win. Behind him, Gage Smith, Chase Johnson, Chad Nading, and Frankie Reed each collected a scoreless inning to make the Wingnuts lead hold up. The bullpen has been a major strength since its early struggles, led by Reed who now has 20 saves, and owns a 1.62 ERA in a league-high 45 relief appearances in 2016.
IS TONIGHT THE NIGHT?
With last night's victory over Joplin, Wichita whittled their magic number to clinch the South Division down to one, meaning the Wingnuts can clinch their sixth straight division title with another victory over the Blasters tonight. Last night's win also kept Wichita even with the St. Paul Saints for the best overall record in the league at 58-36.
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American Association Stories from August 31, 2016
- Wingnuts Game Notes: August 31 vs. Joplin - Wichita Wingnuts
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