Dean's Heroics Allow Wingnuts to Dance in Rain
Published on May 24, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
JOPLIN, MO - After the Wichita Wingnuts' Saturday night showdown with the Joplin Blasters was delayed 32 minutes by rain, the game was played through intermittent showers all evening. The two teams battled each other and the weather down the stretch, until a dramatic tenth inning home run by Brent Dean pushed the Wingnuts to a 6-4 victory.
Just like the night before, the Wingnuts (2-1) wasted no time in grabbing an early lead. Former Kansas City Royals pitcher and Joplin starter Rob Tejeda retired the first two hitters he faced prior to issuing a walk to T.J. Mittelstaedt. An infield single by Dustin Geiger put two on base and then David Espinosa singled home Mittelstaedt to make it 1-0.
The Wichita left fielder was also in the middle of pushing the team's lead to 2-0 in the third. Luis Hernandez led off the inning with a double, his third of the series. A bunt single by Alberto Gonzalez moved Hernandez to third with nobody out. Mittelstaedt lifted a deep fly ball to left that served as a sacrifice fly and increased the lead.
Wingnuts' starter Jason Van Skike was forced to make an early exit in the second inning after he was hit in the lower leg with a hard line drive off the bat of Carlos Ramirez. Somehow Van Skike was still able to make the out at first while limping badly, but could not continue. Scott Kuzminsky replaced the starter and worked out of a small jam in the second. The Blasters (1-2) got to the reliever in the fourth. Ramirez blasted a solo home run to cut the lead in half before Maikol Gonzalez tied the game by scoring Mitch Glasser on an RBI single.
The Wingnuts responded by re-taking a two run lead in the top of the very next inning. Dustin Geiger knocked home his fourth run of the series with a single and Brent Dean later followed suit to grab a 4-2 advantage.
Joplin chipped away with a solo home run off the bat of Jake Taylor in the sixth and then tied the score once again with a run-scoring single from Omar Luna in the seventh. Both teams had a crack at winning the game in the ninth. The Wingnuts got a leadoff base runner in Hernandez who walked to start the frame against Winston Abreu. With Hernandez running, Gonzalez swung and missed sending his bat flying down the left field line. The throw towards second by the Joplin catcher was off target and allowed Hernandez to scamper to third, but interference was called on Gonzalez prompting argument from the Wingnuts' dugout. Hernandez was returned to first base in the aftermath. Reliever Daniel Carela was ejected.
In Joplin's half of the inning, Yasser Gomez reached against Nuts' closer Matt Nevarez via an infield single. He was pinch-run for by the speedy Jesus Solorzano. Steve Tinoco bunted the runner into scoring position for Taylor. The DH lined a ball directly to Mittelstaedt in left who made the catch and then fired a throw behind the runner to second to catch Solorzano too far off the bag and end the inning.
Right-hander Jake Meiers came on for the tenth and immediately allowed a single from David Espinosa. Espinosa was bunted to second by John Nester to set the stage for Dean. The designated hitter blasted a ball through the raindrops and over the wall in left to give the visitors the lead at 6-4. Nevarez faced the minimum in the bottom half of the inning on his way to earning the win.
The series finale is slated for Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. LHP Charlie Lowell is scheduled to throw for the Wingnuts against RHP Raydel Sanchez of the Blasters. The game will be broadcast on 92.7 KWME and can also be streamed by selecting the "Listen Live" link on the team website. The home opener against the Winnipeg Goldeyes will take place on Tuesday, May 26th. 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.
Jason Kempf
Wichita Wingnuts
Communications Manager
Office: (316) 264-6887
Cell: (920) 960-6919
jason@wichitawingnuts.com
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