Bombs Away and the Double Play Propel Wingnuts to 14-4 Win
Published on July 7, 2014 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (July 7, 2014) - The Wichita Wingnuts came back from an early deficit to pull away with an impressive 14-4 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries on Monday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. What made the win impressive was the combination of a powerful offense that kept launching home runs and a determined pitching staff that helped an opportunistic defense turn an American Association record six double plays.
Tim Brown (7-2), the Wingnuts starting pitcher, got off to a very slow start before turning things around. The Canaries (20-30) came out swinging red-hot bats from the words "play ball" in the top of the first. Steve Tinoco walked to start the game, just the seventh of the year issued by the right-hander, and then Brandon Jones grounded a single through the right side. A.J. Kirby-Jones ripped a double to center field and off the wall to score Tinoco and give Sioux Falls an early 1-0 edge. The next batter, Chris Duffy, bounced into a fielder's choice to score another run, before two more singles by Carlos Mendez and Chris Valencia plated one more to make it 3-0.
In the bottom of the first the Wingnuts (34-17) trimmed that lead with a couple runs of their own. Ryan Khoury began the inning with a single and stole second, which allowed him to score on Jake Kahaulelio's base hit to right. Tinoco had the ball roll between his legs, so Kahaulelio raced all the way to third as a result of the error. That was big because the next batter, Brent Clevlen, lifted a fly ball to deep enough center field that Kahaulelio easily scored.
After Sioux Falls added a lone run in the second, the Nuts really went to work against Canaries' starter Matt Wickswat (2-3). With one runner on base and one out Khoury drew a walk and Chris McClendon laced a run-scoring single up the middle to cut the deficit to 4-3. After Kahaulelio walked to load the bases, Clevlen crushed a high fastball to left for Wichita's second grand slam of the year and a 7-4 lead. The clean-up hitter ended the game 3-4 with a double, home run, five RBI and two runs scored.
The long ball was the method of choice once again in the third inning versus Wickswat. Cody Robinson, who was making his professional debut after being signed earlier in the day, blasted a solo home run to lead off the inning. After a one out David Amberson single, Khoury got all of a pitch and whacked it out to deep left for his sixth home run of the season, making it 9-4.
Trevor Whyte was responsible for the next four runs the Wingnuts would score on two different deep flies to right center. The first was of the solo variety off of Wickswat in the fourth and the second a three-run long ball against Chase Boruff in the sixth. After the pair of blasts, the Wingnuts had jumped ahead 14-4. Wickswat left the game battered and bruised after 5.0 innings in which he allowed 11 runs on 12 hits with four walks.
Meanwhile, Brown settled in nicely on the hill, at one point retiring 10 straight Canaries that stepped to the plate. He used the help of double plays in the first, second, and sixth innings to ease some pressure from the Sioux Falls offense. The right-hander's line featured 6.0 innings, four runs, nine hits, a walk, and a strikeout. Matt Robertson, Jared Gaynor, and Alex Hinshaw each held the Canaries down with scoreless innings out of the pen. Each of their innings also featured a double play at some point. The six double plays the Wingnuts completed is a new American Association record.
Wichita received multiple RBI from Clevlen (5), Whyte (4), and Khoury (2) and multiple runs scored by Khoury (3), Kahaulelio (2), Clevlen (2), Robinson (2), and Whyte (2). Eight of the nine hitters registered a hit in the barrage. The five home runs tied a Wingnuts record for most in a single game.
Tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. the same two clubs will lock horns in game two of the three-game series. Nuts' RHP Justin Klipp (4-2) will match-up against RHP Kyle Ruwe (4-4) of Sioux Falls. The game can be heard on 92.7 KWME or by heading to wichitawingnuts.com and clicking the "Listen Live" link. 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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