Patience Pays off as Wingnuts Double up Joplin 16-8

June 28, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WICHITA, KS - The Wichita Wingnuts found themselves trailing by five runs midway through Saturday evening's contest with the Joplin Blasters at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The home team showed impressive resiliency by taking advantage of 13 walks by Blasters pitchers and scoring the final 13 runs of the game to win 16-8.

Wichita (19-15) jumped on starting pitcher Jon Jones the moment he toed the rubber. A Luis Hernandez double was followed by a walk issued to David Espinosa. Matt Padgett banged a double into the right center gap to score both runners. Later in the frame, Taylor Oldham notched a run-scoring single of his own to make the score 3-0 after one inning.

After the early outburst, the Wingnuts offense would become quiet until the fifth inning. Meanwhile, the Blasters (20-12) started to go to work on Jason Van Skike. After two outs were recorded in the second, Joplin had five straight hitters reach base safely against the right-hander. A single and a walk were followed by an RBI single from Gabe Suarez and then with the bases loaded, Oscar Mesa beat out an infield single to pull Joplin within 3-2.

The visitors managed to plate two runs in each of the next three innings as well. A two-run home run by Jake Taylor provided all of the damage in the third inning. In the fourth, Mesa ripped a run-scoring triple and Yenier Bello scored him with a sacrifice fly to right field. Finally, in the fifth, Suarez brought in a run with a sacrifice fly and Maikol Gonzalez, the final batter Van Skike would face, made it 8-3 with a double. Van Skike departed after 4.2 innings, having allowed eight runs on 10 hits and three walks.

The Wingnuts got it all back in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of a five run inning that was highlighted by a big hit from the club's catcher. Espinosa and Joash Brodin each drew walks with a single by Padgett sandwiched in between to load the bases. T.J. Mittelstaedt was gift-wrapped an RBI when relief pitcher Jacob Negrete (0-1) walked him as well. Brent Dean pulled the Wingnuts within a run by yanking a bases-clearing double into the left field corner. Tyler Coughenour bounced a ball past the shortstop with Dean running hard to tie the game at 8-8.

Both teams went down quietly in the sixth before Wichita took the lead in the seventh. Dean singled to open the stanza and was bunted to second by Coughenour. Jayce Ray came through with his 19th RBI of the season on a run-scoring single to put the Nuts in front. After a Hernandez single, Oscar Lezcano went to Victor Capellan out of the bullpen. The sidearm thrower walked three of the next four hitters to force in two more runs and increase the Wichita lead to 11-8.

The game was blown open in the eighth when the Wingnuts sent 11 men to the plate and scored five runs against Matt Sample. Six of the nine players in the lineup tallied a hit in the inning which ended with designated hitter Mitch Glasser on the mound. Hernandez, Espinosa, Padgett, and Mittelstaedt each drove in a run in the inning. When the smoke cleared the score read 16-8.

Alex Boshers (1-0) picked up his first professional win by tossing 2.1 scoreless innings in relief of the starter. Daniel Bennett and Brad Mincey also worked scoreless frames down the stretch. Espinosa and Mittelstaedt each drew four walks and the former reached base in all six plate appearances.

The series will wrap up on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. with RHP Scott Kuzminsky (2-1) on the mound for Wichita against RHP Matt Swilley (1-0) of the Blasters. 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 28, 2015


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