Hankerd, Sox score nine unanswered, defeat Wingnuts 11-6

Published on June 19, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Amarillo ThunderHeads News Release


AMARILLO, TX - The Amarillo Sox trailed the Wichita Wingnuts 6-2 in the fifth inning, but behind five RBI from Cyle Hankerd, they scored nine unanswered runs to defeat the Wingnuts 11-6 on Sunday night in front of 3,142 at the Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium.

Sox reliever Pat Overholt (1-0) got the win, pitching three-and-a-third of scoreless relief. Wingnuts reliever Jared Simon (2-2) got the loss, allowing a two-run homerun to Hankerd to break the tie in the sixth inning.

The Sox took a second inning lead as Van Pope walked, went to second on an error and scored on a Matt Tucker RBI double. They added another run in the third as Tim Alberts beat out a bases loaded double play attempt to score the runner from third for a 2-0 lead.

Wichita got their first run in the fourth inning as Josh Workman hit a sacrifice fly to cut the lead in half. In the fifth inning, the Wingnuts broke through against Sox pitching. Wichita scored five runs off five hits and an error, capped off by a two-run homerun from Workman for a 6-2 Wingnuts lead.

Wichita would not lead again.

In the fifth, Adam De La Garza singled to lead off and scored on a Hankerd RBI double to center field. Following a groundout, Pope singled to score Hankerd, while Alberts doubled to score Pope. Following a Tucker single to move Alberts to third, Kevin Butler hit a long fly ball to left field to score Alberts on the sacrifice fly to tie the game at 6-6.

In the sixth, De La Garza again lead off with a single while Hankerd hit the first pitch he saw to left-center field for a two-run homerun to give Amarillo an 8-6 advantage.

The Sox would add more in the seventh as Jason White reached on an error, Fehlandt Lentini walked and De La Garza hit an infield single to load the bases. Following a pitching change, Hankerd hit a single to score White and Lentini. Lee Cruz followed with an RBI single to give Amarillo an 11-6 lead.

Sox closer Gary Perinar came in, allowed runners at second and third with no outs, but he retired the next three batters without allowing a run to give the Sox the five-run lead.

With the win, the Sox improve to 17-18 while the Wingnuts fall to 20-16. Following a Monday off day, Amarillo will travel to El Paso to take on the Diablos for the opening game of a three-game set at 8:05pm. The game can be heard by visiting www.diablos.com. Game time is tentative and is subject to blackout.

Season tickets are available for purchase in-person by visiting the Sox Front Offices at 801 S. Polk or over the phone by calling (806) 242-4653. For more information on tickets, game times and schedules, promotions, marketing opportunities, and everything else Sox, visit the "Official Website of the Amarillo Sox" at www.amarillosox.com.

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American Association Stories from June 19, 2011


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