Nuts Done in by Big First Inning as Saints Avoid Sweep
August 26, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (August 26, 2015) - After the first inning concluded, the Wichita Wingnuts outscored the St. Paul Saints by a run on Wednesday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The only problem was that the Saints already had jumped out to a 6-2 lead following the opening frame. The visitors staved off multiple attempts at a rally to salvage a game in the series by an 11-8 score.
Jason Van Skike (7-6) opened the game by getting Alonzo Harris to pop out on the first pitch. Each of the next five hitters that came to the plate would reach base safely. Willie Argo made it aboard on an infield single, moved to second when Vinny DiFazio walked, and then Angelo Songco loaded the bases with his single to center. Ian Gac cleared the bases with a booming double to left center and put St. Paul (65-24) on top 3-0. The next batter, Ryan Lashley, ripped his fourth home run of the year to push the advantage to 5-0. With two outs, Anthony Phillips reached on a single and scored when Sam Maus followed with an RBI double. In all, the Saints scored six runs on six hits and sent 10 hitters to the plate.
Two home runs over the course of the next inning and a half helped the Wingnuts (54-35) move to within four runs. Andy LaRoche hit his third home run of the series with a runner on base in the bottom of the first to pull Wichita within 6-2. Another double from St. Paul's Gac in the second inning pushed the lead back to five, until Harrison Kain teed off on his sixth home run of the season in the bottom half.
The Wingnuts were able to inch closer off of St. Paul starter Robert Coe (10-3) in the fourth and fifth. Leo Vargas' two out single up the middle scored a run in the fourth. Kain tried to score on an errant throw to third from center field, but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. In the fifth, the bases were loaded with no outs for LaRoche. The first baseman lofted a sacrifice fly into left field to bring one run home and make it 7-5. Two ensuing fly balls brought an end to that threat.
A pair of two out two-run home runs from the left fielder Argo kept the Wingnuts from ever taking the lead. Argo's first long ball in the sixth preceded a three-run outburst from the Wingnuts offense that would have put them in front, but instead brought them within 9-8. The final home run turned a one run game into an 11-8 lead. Argo finished the series with three home runs and 12 for the season.
Ryan Rodebaugh, who picked up his 23rd save of the season proved to be too much in the final frame. He surrendered a leadoff walk to LaRoche, but nothing else.
Five different hitters had multiple base knocks with Kain pacing everyone by going 4-5. St. Paul finished with eight extra-base hits, five of them in the first two innings.
The Wingnuts will head to Sioux City to take on the Explorers in the opener of a four-game weekend series on Thursday night. First pitch is slated for 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 August 26, 2015
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