Nuts Dig Early Hole and Can't Climb out in 9-6 Loss
Published on June 18, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
GARY, IN (June 18, 2015) - The final game of the Wichita Wingnuts three-game series in Gary at U.S. Steelyard got off to a promising start for the visitors. After taking a quick lead in the top of the first, momentum quickly swung in favor of Gary SouthShore as the RailCats scored eight runs in the first two innings to build a lead the Wingnuts could never recover from. The Nuts closed the gap considerably in the late innings, but it wasn't enough as they fell by a 9-6 score.
Wichita (16-9) took the early advantage against RailCats' starter Chris Cummins (3-1) with a lone run in the first. Jayce Ray began the game with a double and moved to third when Alberto Gonzalez reached on an error by first baseman Stephen Rogers. David Espinosa quickly lined a sacrifice fly to center and the Wingnuts were ahead.
The lead didn't last long, however, as the pesky bats of the RailCats (14-12) quickly attacked Wingnuts pitcher Scott Kuzminsky in the bottom half. With two outs, Gary managed to string together four consecutive hits, three of them of the run-scoring variety, to jump in front 3-1. The RailCats stayed hot in the second frame as well. Once again they put together four hits in a row and six total in the stanza to put up five more runs and push their edge to 8-1. Kuzminsky (1-1) was removed before the inning ended, allowing eight runs on 11 hits and a walk.
The Wingnuts would not tally again until the sixth inning when they used three extra-base hits to get within 8-5. Matt Padgett walked with one out and then raced to third on a double by Joash Brodin, who extended his hitting streak to nine games. T.J. Mittelstaedt laced a double of his own to score both runners and cut the Gary lead to five. Before the inning concluded, Dustin Geiger smashed a two-run home run to left that pulled Wichita within three.
The Wingnuts had another chance to trim the lead in the seventh, but could not move closer despite putting two runners in scoring position with nobody out for the middle of order. Geiger provided the final run of the game for the Nuts in the eighth with another home run to left center.
Gary SouthShore added a final run to their lead in the eighth off of Al Yevoli to go up 9-6. Andy Loomis picked up his seventh save by retiring the side in order in the ninth.
Shawn Talkington, a former Emporia State Hornet, was outstanding in his professional debut. The right-hander allowed nothing in 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen in relief of Kuzminsky.
The Wingnuts return to action on Friday night in Kansas City at Community America Ballpark. LHP Anthony Capra will toe the rubber in the opener against T-Bones lefty Blake Holovach. The game will get underway at 7:05 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.
American Association Stories from June 18, 2015
- Bats Explode in First Two Innings as 'Cats Take Finale - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Nuts Dig Early Hole and Can't Climb out in 9-6 Loss - Wichita Wingnuts
- Canaries Shutout in Fargo on Thursday, Win Series 3-1 - Sioux Falls Canaries
- The Birdcage Advances to Elite-8 in Best of Indy-Ball Contest - Sioux Falls Canaries
- RedHawks Sign Englebrook, Release Blough - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- T-Bones Promotions: June 19-21 - Kansas City Monarchs
- Canaries Make It Three in a Row After 7-3 Win - Sioux Falls Canaries
- RedHawks Falter Late, Lose to Canaries - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Lowell and Late Offense Pushes Wingnuts Past Gary SouthShore - Wichita Wingnuts
- Three RBI Night by Mendonca Leads X's to Fifth Win in a Row - Sioux City Explorers
- Garner is Stellar on the Mound for Lemurs - Laredo Lemurs
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