Brilliant Bullpen Guides Wingnuts to Comeback Win
June 13, 2018 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
CLEBURNE, Tex. - The Wichita Wingnuts got 7.1 innings from their bullpen with just one run allowed, rallying from a first inning deficit to claim an 8-6 win over the Cleburne Railroaders on Tuesday night at The Depot at Cleburne Station.
Cleburne (9-15) grabbed four runs in the first inning against Wingnuts starter Corbin Osburn. Trevor Sealey hit a solo homer to start the scoring, then Chevy Clarke smacked a two-run shot before Alex Polston capped the frame with an RBI single.
The Wingnuts (13-11) had a quick answer in the second, cutting the deficit in half on a two-run double from Ryne Willard. The Railroaders stretched the lead back to 5-2 in the bottom of the frame on a Sealey RBI single, but Wichita once again had a response in the third. Fernando Perez blasted a long two-run homer to trim the lead to 5-4, then Willard tied the game with a run-scoring double off Cleburne starter Roman Gomez (0-3).
After a Blake Grant-Parks solo homer in the home half of the inning, Wichita finally surged in front in the top of the fourth. Logan Watkins led off with a double and raced home on an RBI single from Abel Nieves to knot the score at 6-6, then Tony Thomas plated the go-ahead run with a groundout.
Willard brought home the game's final run in the sixth, lifting a sacrifice fly for his fourth RBI of the night.
After the early scoring barrage, the Wingnuts bullpen shut down the Cleburne offense. Seth Harvey (2-0) picked up the victory with 3.1 innings of work, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out three. John Hayes struck out the side in a scoreless sixth, then James Campbell and Brady Bowen kept the Railroaders off the board in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Daniel Tillman nailed down his sixth save with a scoreless bottom of the ninth, stranding the bases loaded by striking out Grant-Parks to end the game.
John Nester led the way for the Wingnuts offense with a 4-for-5 evening, while Nieves had three hits and scored a trio of runs.
The Wingnuts continue their series with the Railroaders on Wednesday night, with Travis Banwart (2-1, 2.03) going up against Dylan Mouzakes (1-1, 4.43) for Cleburne. First pitch is scheduled 7:05 PM, and will be broadcast on 1410 AM/93.9 FM KGSO, TuneIn and americanassociationbaseball.tv.
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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