Comeback Falls Short Against Lincoln
Published on July 14, 2010 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts had their seven-game winning streak come to an end in an 8-5 loss to the Lincoln Saltdogs at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Wednesday night.
Leading 4-2 in the top of the seventh, Rafael Alvarez hit a two-out, three-run home run off of Brandon Mathes to break the game open. Mathes opened the inning with a walk to Pat Trettle. After Albenis Machado hit into a double play, Vance Albitz hit a soft line drive to second that went off the glove of Rene Ruiz on one hop. Ruiz was charged with an error and Gavin Dickey followed with a single through the right side that set up Alvarez' home run. The three runs in the inning were unearned.
After Lincoln took an 8-2 lead on a bases loaded walk in the top of the eighth against left-hander David Jensen, the Wingnuts rallied for three in the bottom half to pull within three runs. Ryan Patterson and Jorge Cortes drew one-out walks against starter Tim Brown. Both scored on a two-run double down the left field line by Jackson Melian. After Mario Delgado flied out to deep center, Jeff Christy doubled to right-center to drive in Melian with the Wingnuts' third run of the inning. Steve Pearson drew a walk against reliever Brendon Smith to bring the tying run to the plate, but after a line drive down the right field line that just missed being fair, Michael Bell grounded out to second to end the frame.
Chris Thompson closed out the game in the ninth for the save, striking out the side. Brown earned the win, allowing five earned runs on nine hits in 7.2 IP.
Lincoln opened the scoring on a two-run home run in the top of the second from catcher Pat Trettel off of Wingnuts' starter Adam Cowart. The Saltdogs took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI double from Alvarez. Cowart escaped further trouble in the inning when Alvarez was thrown out at home plate by center fielder Ryan Patterson on Argelis Nunez' single.
Steve Pearson's two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the fourth put Wichita on the board at 3-1. The teams traded runs again in the fifth with Lincoln taking a 4-1 lead on an RBI single by Phil Hawke. Michael Bell doubled to lead off the bottom half and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Josh Horn.
Cowart took the loss, allowing four earned runs in six innings with four strikeouts. Cortes extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an infield single in the sixth.
The series concludes Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Gabe Medina takes on right-hander Chris Cullen. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.
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