Missed Opportunities Cost Wingnuts in 6-3 Loss
May 17, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS - The Wichita Wingnuts (2-1) didn't have many chances to score runs on Saturday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium against the pitching of the Grand Prairie AirHogs (1-2). When opportunity knocked in the later innings, the team was unable to take full advantage and the AirHogs held on to hand the Wingnuts a 6-3 loss, their first of the season.
For the third straight night Wichita was the first team to reach the scoreboard. AirHogs' starter Brandon Bargas allowed a single and walked three batters in the second inning, the third a Ryan Khoury base on balls that forced home a run with the bases loaded.
Grand Prairie responded quickly in the top of the third against Wingnuts' starting pitcher Tim Brown. Frazier Hall led off the inning with a double which was followed immediately by another double off the bat of Vince DiFazio, scoring Hall and tying the game. Two batters later, Brandon Pinckney also hit a run-scoring two-bagger to give the AirHogs a 2-1 lead.
Both pitchers cruised along until the top of the 6th inning when Brown was close to enticing Andres Rodriguez into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. However Chun-Hsiu Chen could not make a clean scoop of a low relay throw from second and Rodriguez reached on the fielder's choice. The next batter, Jason Botts, made the Wingnuts pay by launching a two-run homer over the right field wall and extending the AirHogs' advantage to 4-1.
Brown allowed an RBI double to Eric Baker with two outs in the seventh inning before Mike Zouzalik relieved him. Brown took the loss and worked 6.2 innings in his first start of the season, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, while striking out six. Zouzalik also allowed a run in the eighth inning, making it 6-1 in Grand Prairie's favor.
The best chance for the home team to rally was in the eighth inning against AirHogs' reliever Dustin Cameron. J.T. Wise greeted Cameron with a lead-off solo blast to trim one run off of the deficit. Cameron then proceeded to hit two batters, bringing Carlo Testa to the dish with two on and nobody out. Testa lined sharply to Pinckney, the second baseman, who flipped it to shortstop Matthew Burns doubling off Hazlett who was caught leaning towards third. David Amberson reached on an infield single before Cameron drilled Ryan Khoury to load the bases once again. With Jake Kahaulelio due up as the potential tying run, the AirHogs brought in Cesar Lopez from the bullpen. The move paid off as Lopez got Kahaulelio to foul tip a two-strike pitch into the catcher's mitt, ending the threat.
Brent Clevlen launched a solo home run in the ninth, but the Wingnuts could not muster anything else against Yhency Brazoban. Bargas earned the win, allowing one run on four hits in 5.0 innings. Clevlen had a big night going 3-5 with two doubles and the long ball.
The Wingnuts will send right-hander Justin Klipp to the mound for game four on Sunday, while the AirHogs will turn to left-hander Shawn Spainhoward. First pitch is at 2:05 p.m. 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.
• Discuss this story on the American Association message board...
American Association Stories from May 17, 2014
- American Association Results - AA
- Laber Gets Roughed Up in Laredo - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Saints Come Back to Beat the RailCats - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Missed Opportunities Cost Wingnuts in 6-3 Loss - Wichita Wingnuts
- Sadler Leads Hot Hitting Goldeyes to Victory - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Dominating Defense Aids T-Bones - Kansas City Monarchs
- Lemurs Solid in First Win - Laredo Lemurs
- Sox blasted by 18-hit Winnipeg barrage - Amarillo ThunderHeads
- Saints up to Parr in 6-4 Comeback Victory over RailCats - St. Paul Saints
- Errors, Missed Chances Cost 'Dogs in KC - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Saints Add Pitching Protection with Trade for Shields, Can-Am League's Top Pitcher from 2013 - St. Paul Saints
- Jackson Activated, Hollingsworth Moved to DL - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Wingnuts Lead Start to Finish, Best AirHogs 9-1 - Wichita Wingnuts
- RailCats Fall to 0-2 in Loss to St. Paul 7-2 - Gary SouthShore Railcats
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
