Nuts End Three-Game Skid by Knocking off AirHogs 7-5
August 12, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (August 11, 2015) - The Wichita Wingnuts had dropped each of their last three contests coming in to Tuesday night's meeting with the Grand Prairie AirHogs. The last place team in the South Division was a welcome opponent for the Wingnuts who were much in need of a win. The club pushed their record against Grand Prairie this season to 7-1 with a 7-5 victory that improved Eddie Medina's record to 3-0 on the mound.
Wichita was facing T.J. Bozeman (2-10) for a third time this season and jumped ahead against him in the very first inning. Jayce Ray and David Espinosa each walked to open the bottom of the frame. A fielder's choice grounder left runners on the corners for Andy LaRoche. The third baseman, signed earlier in the day, lifted a sacrifice fly to center that put the Wingnuts (44-31) up 1-0.
A wild defensive play in the fourth inning allowed Grand Prairie (26-59) to tie the game. Ronnie Richardson singled to begin the inning and was on first when Zane Chavez pulled a ball right to Matt Padgett at first. Padgett stepped on first and then turned to find the runner caught in between first and second. The first baseman threw to Luis Hernandez who attempted to return the ball to Padgett, but watched the ball carom off his mitt. With Richardson moving towards second, Padgett fired the ball into left field. The runner realized nobody was near third base and sprinted in that direction. Center fielder Jayce Ray tried to outrace Richardson while catching the ball in his bare hand, but could not hold on. That final error allowed the runner to dive into the plate just ahead of a tag from John Nester.
After the chaos in the top of the fourth, Wichita came back to re-gain control in the home half. Andy LaRoche hooked a double down the left field line to move himself into scoring position. T.J. Mittelstaedt followed by beating out a bunt single to place runners on the corners. A wild pitch scored LaRoche and put the Wingnuts back ahead 2-1. Nester knocked in another run with a base hit for his 33rd RBI of the season. Finally, Luis Hernandez poked a single to score a third run and give Wichita a 4-1 cushion.
LaRoche tallied a second RBI on a fielder's choice ground out in the fifth with runners on the corners. The AirHogs got that run back on Miguel Castano's first home run of the year that opened the sixth inning. In the bottom of the same frame, Hernandez cashed in once again with a two-RBI single off of Jeff Neptune that made the score 7-2. The hit scored Nester who had walked and Harrison Kain who hustled out a double.
Medina, the Wingnuts starter, was still on the mound when the eighth inning began with the lead at five runs. The AirHogs loaded the bases with a single and two walks to force him from the game. Luis Pardo entered from the bullpen and allowed a two-RBI single up the middle to Richardson, the first batter he faced. Chavez followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Jamodrick McGruder and cut the lead to 7-5. Medina worked 7.1 innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on just four hits.
Daniel Bennett made his team-leading 41st appearance of the year in the ninth for his fourth save opportunity. The first two batters of the inning reached, but the team's leader in career appearances shut down Grand Prairie from there to earn his third save.
Hernandez finished the contest 3-3 with three RBI and has now racked up five RBI in the last two nights. The only other Wingnut with multiple hits was David Espinosa who ended with a pair.
Game two between the South Division rivals is Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. The Wingnuts will be celebrating the 1960's so general admission tickets will cost just $1. 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 12, 2015
- 'Hawks Win Fourth Straight, Take Down Gary 6-3 - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- RailCats Start Strong in Loss to Fargo - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Blasters Drop Second Straight to Rockland - Joplin Blasters
- Explorers Fall To St. Paul 5-3 Ending Fourteen Game Win Streak - Sioux City Explorers
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- Link Solid in Return, Wingnuts Ground AirHogs 3-1 - Wichita Wingnuts
- Miguel Pena Tosses Complete Game in 3-0 Loss - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Saints Can Clinch Division Title Thursday, Magic Number Down to One with 5-3 Victory over Explorers - St. Paul Saints
- Smith, Saltdogs Hold Down T-Bones to Even Series - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Carl Clips Canaries, Fish Win Series - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- T-Bones Offense Silenced in Lincoln - Kansas City Monarchs
- Wingnuts Pitching Staff Grows with Addition of Two Right-Handers - Wichita Wingnuts
- Saints Put 2015 Playoff Tickets on Sale - St. Paul Saints
- Lawrence-Dumont Stadium to Host Burger Battle - Wichita Wingnuts
- Roberts Shines as RedHawks Win Opener - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- 'Hawks Walk off 5-4 vs Gary - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Blasters Win Streak Ends in Home Loss to Rockland - Joplin Blasters
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- X's Win Fourteenth Game in a Row - Sioux City Explorers
- Alen Stuns Canaries - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Saints Have 10 Game Win Streak Snapped in 8-3 Loss to Explorers - St. Paul Saints
- Nuts End Three-Game Skid by Knocking off AirHogs 7-5 - Wichita Wingnuts
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.
