Stringer Walk-Off Gives Wichita First Win
Published on May 21, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, Kans. - The Wichita Wingnuts entered Saturday 0-2 for the first time since 2010, but Christian Stringer made sure it would not become 0-3, as his walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth sent the Lawrence-Dumont Stadium crowd home happy after a 3-2 Wingnuts win.
With the game having been deadlocked at two since the sixth inning, Harrison Kain got the Wichita (1-2) ninth inning started by drawing a walk from Matthew Shepherd (0-1). One out later, Richard Prigatano drew a pinch hit walk, setting the stage for Stringer, who drilled a single into right to bring Kain home and give the Wingnuts and new manager Pete Rose Jr. their first win of 2016.
Lincoln (2-1) struck first for the third straight night, plating a pair in the second. With two outs in the frame, Saltdogs backstop Ryan Wiggins doubled into the left field corner, putting the visitors up 2-0.
After the Wiggins double, Wingnuts starter Tim Brown settled in. The righty retired the next 16 in a row, not allowing any more base runners until his last inning, the eighth. For the night, Brown gave up two runs on five hits while striking out four, and not allowing a walk.
Brown's stinginess gave the Wichita offense a chance to perk up and even the score in the middle innings. In the fifth, Saltdogs starter Ryan O'Sullivan walked the lead off man Kain, then exited due to injury. After a bunt single and double steal put runners on second and third, Stringer hit into a fielder's choice that saw Kain score while narrowly avoiding a Wiggins tag, to bring the Wingnuts to within a run.
One inning later Wichita tied it, with T.J. Mittelstaedt, the Wingnuts RBI leader from a season ago, picking up his first RBI of the new campaign, singling Dustin Geiger home.
Lincoln had chances to break the tie in the eighth against Brown and then again in the ninth against Frankie Reed. After a lead-off single in the ninth, Wichita turned a nifty 6-4-3 double play behind the southpaw reliever to set the stage for Stringer's heroics in the home half.
The Wingnuts go for a split of their season-opening four-game set with the Saltdogs Sunday afternoon at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Right-hander Eddie Medina (1st start) will toe the slab for Wichita, while Lincoln will counter with southpaw Bennett Parry (1st start). First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m. and the game can be heard on 1410 AM KGSO, as well as on TuneIn. 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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