Nuts School Sioux City by 8-1 Score
August 30, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
SIOUX CITY - The Wichita Wingnuts entered Saturday night's game with Sioux City at Lewis and Clark Park hoping to erase the taste of the previous night's doubleheader. The squad grabbed an early 2-0 lead and then exploded for five runs in the fourth inning on their way to an 8-1 win the third game of the series. Scott Richmond was brilliant on the mound over 7.0 innings of work and allowed just one run, while recording seven strikeouts.
The Wingnuts (55-37) came up short despite threatening in the first inning, but were able to cash in during the second. T.J. Mittelstaedt crushed his 15th home run of the season to right field to give the Wingnuts their first lead of the series. Harrison Kain quickly followed with a double, stole third, and scored on Brent Dean's RBI single to make it 2-0. The RBI was Dean's 21st of the year.
The first six hitters to step the plate in the top of the fourth reached base safely via hit as the Nuts busted the game open against starter John Straka (10-3). Dean opened the inning with a double and moved to third when Leo Vargas singled. With runners on the corners, Taylor Smart's base hit drove in a run to extend the lead to 3-0. Nick Van Stratten, Jayce Ray, and Brent Clevlen followed with run-producing hits of their own. Van Stratten was able to score on a throwing error following Ray's single. When the dust cleared the Wingnuts had pulled in front 7-0.
Sioux City (69-23) mustered their only run via the long ball in the home half of the fourth. Richmond's teammate in the Pan-Am Games with Team Canada, Brock Kjeldgaard, drove an offering over the left field wall for his 14th home run of the year. Richmond (5-1) was not fazed, tossing 3.0 more scoreless innings and allowing just six hits in the game.
The Wingnuts tacked on an insurance run with Andy LaRoche's double to the gap that scored Clevlen from first on a 3-2 pitch in the seventh. Brad Orosey and Paul Smyth came on from the Wichita bullpen in relief of Richmond and neither allowed a hit in two scoreless innings.
Every member of the Wingnuts lineup finished with at least one hit. Ray led all hitters with three and Mittelstaedt reached base safely in five of six plate appearances. He earned three walks and doubled off the wall in the four at-bats immediately following his home run.
The Wingnuts will attempt to achieve a split in the four-game series on Sunday evening at 7:05 p.m. Wichita will be throwing right-hander Tim Brown (9-2) in a battle with Explorers RHP Ryan Strufing (1-1). 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.
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