Solo Homers and Big Eighth Lift Link, Wingnuts to Third Straight Win
July 17, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
GRAND PRAIRIE, TX (July 16, 2015) - The Wichita Wingnuts and Grand Prairie AirHogs traded solo home runs over the first inning and a half of Thursday night's contest at QuikTrip Park. The Wingnuts were responsible for two of the home runs and carried a one run lead into the eighth inning where they broke free to win by a 9-1 score. Wichita has won three straight games.
Early in the game it appeared that it was going to be an offensive battle filled with displays of power. David Espinosa ripped his second home run of the year off of Bennett Whitmore (2-4) two batters into the game to give the Wingnuts a quick 1-0 lead. Brian Myrow responded in the bottom of the inning as he clanked a solo home run of his own off the foul pole to tie the score. In the second inning, Whitmore was taken out of the yard by John Nester to put Wichita (30-22) back in control 2-1.
From that point forward Wingnuts' starter Jon Link (3-0) went into shut down mode. Link matched the Wingnuts season-high for strikeouts in a game by recording nine. He allowed just one run on two hits in 6.0 stellar innings. At one point the former big leaguer retired 12 straight hitters. Wingnuts' starters have recorded 18 strikeouts in 12.0 innings in the series.
Daniel Bennett turned in a scoreless seventh inning right before the Wingnuts exploded in the top of the eighth against reliever Zach Dando. Espinosa drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on T.J. Mittelstaedt's single to right. Zane Chavez tried to throw behind Espinosa at second, but sent the ball into center field which allowed both runners to advance. After Dando recorded one out, the AirHogs (18-35) intentionally walked Matt Padgett to load the bases. John Nester worked the count full and watched a pitch miss the outside corner to force in a run. Harrison Kain followed with a sharp single that made it 4-1 and advanced all runners 90 feet. Luis Hernandez delivered a big blow to Grand Prairie's hopes when he slapped a bases-clearing double down the left field line to push the advantage to 7-1.
The ninth inning was kind to the Wingnuts as well. The stanza once again began with a walk to Espinosa and single from Mittelstaedt, this time against Colin Allen. Brodin lined an RBI single to right and Kain later came through with a run-scoring double as the lead ballooned to 9-1. Kain led all hitters three base knocks.
Alex Boshers and Scott Kuzminsky each put up scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth respectively. Those appearances, combined with Bennett's outing, has pushed the bullpen's scoreless inning streak to 21.1 innings.
The series will continue on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Tim Brown (5-1) will work for the Wingnuts in a battle with RHP Brett Wallach (0-5) of the AirHogs. 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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