Capra Carries Wingnuts to 1-0 Win
June 13, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS - The Wichita Wingnuts' Saturday night tilt with the Lincoln Saltdogs at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium turned into a pitcher's duel after both teams missed early chances to take the lead. In the end, it was the left arm of Anthony Capra that won out in the battle as Wichita was able to take advantage of one Lincoln miscue to escape with a 1-0 victory.
The Wingnuts (14-7) loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first against Lincoln starter Jesse Smith (1-3), aiming to jump out to a quick lead. Those ideas were dissolved when Smith got Joash Brodin to lift a shallow fly ball to center for the second out and then T.J. Mittelstaedt flied out to the warning track in left.
Capra (2-2) allowed the Saltdogs (7-15) to put a pair on base in both the second and third innings, but was able to work out of potential danger in both instances. In the second he forced an inning-ending double play off the bat of Brian Joynt and then in the next inning induced a groundball to third from C.J. Ziegler to keep Lincoln scoreless.
Neither team had managed to plate a run as the game moved into the home half of the sixth. Brodin drove a double into the right field corner off of Smith to open the frame. Mittelstaedt executed a textbook sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to third. With the infield drawn in, John Nester bounced a ball right to the second baseman Trevor Martin who held Brodin at third before throwing out the catcher. With Dustin Geiger at the plate and two outs, the Wingnuts received the break they needed. A low pitch from Smith crawled between the legs of the catcher Mitch Canham to the backstop which gave Brodin plenty of time to cross home plate and made it 1-0.
Lincoln would never threaten against Capra during the rest of his eight-inning performance in which he fanned seven and surrendered only three hits. In fact, the former Wichita State Shocker retired the final 12 batters he faced before turning the game over to closer Matt Nevarez. The big right-hander quickly breezed through a one, two, three inning, striking out the final two hitters to earn his sixth save.
The shutout was the third of the year for the Wichita pitching staff and the first time this season that the Saltdogs failed to score a run. Alberto Gonzalez led the Wingnuts with a 3-4 performance at the plate.
The series finale will get underway at 1:05 p.m. Sunday afternoon with post-game catch on the field to follow. RHP Tim Brown will test his 3-0 record against the Saltdogs and LHP Kevin McGovern (1-1). 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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