Hernandez Walks off to Lift Wingnuts over Lemurs
July 9, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (July 8, 2015) - Wednesday night's battle between the Wichita Wingnuts and Laredo Lemurs at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium was full of action despite the final 1-0 score. The game included a heated exchange, scoring opportunities, high-pressure situations, fantastic defensive plays, and ended with a wild celebration by the Wingnuts after their walk-off victory. Luis Hernandez's clutch two out ground-rule double won the game and kept the Nuts undefeated in their current nine-game homestand.
Wichita (25-19) had scoring opportunities against Laredo starter Matt Loosen all night, but could never cash in. David Espinosa started the first inning with a triple and was stranded at third when the inning ended. In the third, Jayce Ray drew a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position with just one out, but could not score. The Wingnuts had runners on first and second with one out in the fifth when Espinosa hit a line drive to left that was caught and resulted in the runner from second being doubled off. Runners were on the corners with one out in the sixth when John Nester bounced into a hard luck double play. Loosen finally left after 7.0 shutout innings, having surrendered only three hits.
On the other hand, Jason Van Skike was equally as effective against the Lemurs (23-23). Just one runner was able to make into scoring position against the right-hander all night long. He worked out of that situation in the fourth inning by getting a great play by third baseman T.J. Mittelstaedt to retire Juan Silverio. Van Skike ended up throwing 7.1 shutout innings and scattered five hits while striking out four.
Before the seventh inning began, the benches cleared when Laredo third baseman Juan Silverio and Nester, the Wingnuts catcher, began a heated verbal exchange near home plate. No physical contact was made, but both players were ejected from the contest.
That intensity carried over into the ninth inning as Dakota Watts (1-0) stranded a runner on second to close out a scoreless top half. In the bottom half, Joash Brodin singled off of Luis De La Cruz to reach base. However, the next hitter, Matt Padgett, bounced into a hit-and-run double play that cleared the bases. De La Cruz (1-2) walked Taylor Oldham before being pulled from the game in favor of closer John Brebbia. Brebbia also issued a walk to the first batter he saw, Brent Dean. With the tying run in scoring position, Hernandez drove a 1-0 pitch over the head of Ty Morrison and watched it bounce over the wall for a game-winning double.
The Wingnuts will try to pick up the sweep on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. The game will feature Shiner Bock for a buck and dollar wings. 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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