Relentless Quebec Attack Leads to Wingnuts Defeat
August 6, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC (August 5, 2015) - In their first ever trip to Le Stade Municipal in Quebec the Wichita Wingnuts were greeted by loud and passionate fans and a Capitales offense that kept the pressure on all night long. The second place team in the Can-Am League pounded out 17 hits, scored in five straight innings, and had their pitchers record 12 strikeouts to open the series with a 6-2 victory.
The one area that Quebec (39-87) has struggled this year is defense and that weakness cost them in the Wingnuts second trip to the plate. T.J. Mittelstaedt reached on an error by first baseman Tim Smith to open the inning. He moved to second on Joash Brodin's single and scored when a ground ball off the bat of Brent Dean rolled right through the legs of shortstop Yordan Manduley. Leo Vargas worked a two out walk to load the bases for the top of the order. Jayce Ray was hit in the elbow by a pitch to force in another run and give Wichita (42-28) a 2-0 lead.
The Capitales, who stranded two runners in the first inning, began their climb to the lead with a run in the second inning. Jason Van Skike (6-4) walked Josue Peley and watched him advance to third on Smith's sharp single. An error on Mittelstaedt that occurred on a roller up the middle allowed Peley to score and cut the lead in half. Another fielder's choice grounder, this time from Jean-Luc Blaquiere, tied the score in the third.
Manduley and Ty Young commenced the bottom of the fourth inning with a pair of singles. Yunieski Gourriel followed with another base hit that drove in a run and gave Quebec the lead. Brodin threw out Young trying to score to end the inning on one more single from Alexei Bell. Quebec would load the bases in the bottom of the fifth with two outs and their leadoff hitter Young at the dish once again. The left fielder knocked in a pair with a single to extend the lead to 5-2.
They added one more run in the sixth inning while chasing Van Skike from the contest. With one out the right-hander allowed a walk and a hit which forced Kevin Hooper to call on Scott Kuzminsky. The University of Hawaii product struck out the first he hitter he faced before giving up a run on a soft single to center from Peley. Van Skike lasted 5.1 innings and was held responsible for six runs on 13 hits.
The Wingnuts were able to put at least one base runner aboard in seven different innings, but could never muster another run against Quebec starter Mark Hardy (6-3) nor Jon Fitzsimmons. Hardy struck out seven batters in 7.0 innings and allowed just the two unearned runs on five hits. He was replaced by Fitzsimmons who held the Nuts without a hit while striking out five in the final two innings.
Every member of the Capitales lineup came up with at least one hit. Bell paced all hitters with an impressive 4-4 day and reached base safely in all five of his trips to the plate. Manduley added three hits of his own.
The second game between the clubs is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. EST on Thursday night. RHP Eddie Medina (1-0) will make his second start for the Wingnuts against long-time Quebec ace RHP Karl Gelinas (9-2). 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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