Nutty Ninth Helps Wichita Close In
August 30, 2011 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
EL PASO, TX- The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the El Paso Diablos 7-6 at Cohen Stadium on Monday night.
With Gary SouthShore's loss versus St. Paul, the Wingnuts now have a 1.0 game lead in the Central Division with one game left on their regular season schedule. Wichita has ensured they will at least play in a tie-breaker game on Wednesday. The Wingnuts could clinch the division outright on Tuesday night with a win over El Paso, or a Gary SouthShore loss versus St. Paul.
Trailing 6-5 in the top of the ninth inning, the Wingnuts managed two runs in bizarre fashion to take a 7-6 lead. Facing reliever Reyes Dorado, Juan Richardson lined a single to center field with one out. Carlos Rivera was retired on a bunt to third base, advancing Richardson to second. Jorge Delgado drew a five-pitch walk to put the go-ahead run on first, and was pinch-run for by Tommy Fitzgerald.
Mitch Einertson then hit a popfly into shallow left field that was dropped by Brian Joynt. Richardson scored the tying run, Fitzgerald went to third, and Einertson took second. Josh Workman was intentionally walked to load the bases. On a 1-2 count, Edwin Bellorin hit a sinking line drive to left field that was initially ruled a diving catch by Joynt for the final out of the inning. After a lengthy discussion between the umpiring crew, the call was overturned and ruled a trap, crediting Bellorin with an RBI single that made it 7-6. Several Diablos players and staff were ejected following the decision.
With Josh Dew unavailable for the bottom of the ninth, Matt Nevarez took over and worked a scoreless inning to earn his first save of the year.
The Wingnuts jumped on the board first for a third time in the series, scoring four runs in the top of the second. Einertson singled up the middle and went to third on Workman's single through the right side. Bellorin hit a chopper over Martin Parra at thrid base to score Einertson with the game's first run. After Mike Conroy hit into a force play for the first out, Jimmy Mojica singled through the left side. Bellorin scored from second, sliding underneath the tag of catcher Alberto Espinosa. Espinosa then tried to throw behind Mojica at first, but sent the ball down the right field line. Conroy scored on the error, while Mojica went to third, giving the Wingnuts a 3-0 lead. Josh Horn finished the rally with a single to right-center that scored Mojica.
El Paso rallied for four of their own in the bottom of the third. Kory Drew led off with a solo home run down the left field line against Wingnuts' starter Ryan Hinson. Maikel Gonzalez followed with a walk and scored three batters later on Javier Brito's two-out, RBI double to center field. Espinosa tied the game with a two-run home run to left field.
Rivera singled home the lead run in the top of the seventh with two outs to put Wichita back in front 5-4, but a two-out wild pitch thrown by Kendy Batista in the bottom half allowed El Paso to knot the score for a second time.
The Diablos took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth when Adam DeLeo homered to left field.
Jared Simon earned the win in relief, throwing two-thirds of a scoreless inning. Dorado took the loss.
Hinson took a no-decision, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in six and two-thirds. Hinson walked three and struck out one.
Scott Hodsdon started and took a no-decision for El Paso, allowing five runs, three earned, on 13 hits in eight innings. Hodsdon walked one and struck out three.
The series wraps up on Tuesday night at 8:05 p.m. Central Time. Nick Singleton squares off against right-hander Reymond Cruz. All the action can be heard locally on Oldies 93.5 KWME and worldwide at www.kleyam.com
For information on potential tie-breaker and playoff tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
American Association Stories from August 30, 2011
- Wingnuts Clinch Central Division - Wichita Wingnuts
- Peterson Throws Scoreless Eighth, Captains Win Final Game of 2011 Season 7-6 in Ft. Worth - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Peterson Throws Scoreless Eighth, Captains Win Final Game of 2011 Season 7-6 in Ft. Worth - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Sadler Reaches 100 as T-Bones Fall in Finale - Kansas City Monarchs
- RedHawks close season with 6-5 victory over Kansas City - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Fish Reach 60 Wins with Extra Innings Win in Sioux Falls - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Goldeyes to Face St. Paul in the First Round - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- RedHawks Close out Season with 6-5 Win over Kansas City - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Lee Cruz Named American Association All-Star - Amarillo ThunderHeads
- Douglas, Hunton Named to Postseason All-Star Team - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- Sadler Named Post-Season All-Star - Kansas City Monarchs
- Richardson, Horn Named All-Stars - Wichita Wingnuts
- Moore Repeats as AA Pitcher of the Year - Sioux Falls Canaries
- RailCats Brad Boyer Named American Association All-Star - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- 2011 Postseason All-Star Team Announced - AA
- Two Saints Outfielders Honored with Post Season Awards - St. Paul Saints
- X's Walk Off The Dogs - Sioux City Explorers
- American Association Game Recap - AA
- Big Hit Eludes AirHogs in Regular-Season Finale - Grand Prairie AirHogs
- Nutty Ninth Helps Wichita Close In - Wichita Wingnuts
- Comeback Effort Comes up Short as RailCats Drop 7-4 Contest - 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.
