Stunning Ninth Lifts Wingnuts in Newark
Published on August 2, 2013 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
NEWARK, NJ- The Wichita Wingnuts (47-25) beat the Can-Am League's Newark Bears (23-46) 10-8 in 10 innings at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Friday night.
The Wingnuts scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game before plating two in the 10th to take the lead. The five runs matched the largest ninth-inning deficit overcome in franchise history.
John Rodriguez opened the ninth with an infield single and came home when C.J. Ziegler lined a home run to left-center field. Brent Clevlen followed with a double to left-center. Abel Nieves cut Newark's lead to 8-6 with a triple off the right-center field fence. After Cole Armstrong was retired by new reliever Jorge Vasquez, Madison Beaird drew a pinch-hit walk to put the tying runs on base. Jared McDonald bounced a single through the right side that scored Nieves and moved Beaird to third. Ryan Khoury lifted a sacrifice fly to left that tied the game.
Andrew Aizenstadt worked around a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth to keep the game tied. Armstrong started a key double play in the inning on a bunt attempt from Sean O'Hare.
In the top of the 10th, Ziegler singled to center with one out. Two batters later, Nieves reached on an infield single. With runners on first and second and two outs, Armstrong ripped a line drive single to right that drove in Ziegler with the go-ahead run. After Sergio Espinosa relieved Vasquez, Beaird doubled to deep left field to drive in Nieves and make it 10-8.
Josh Dew struck out the side in the bottom of the 10th to earn his 17th save.
Aizenstadt earned the win in relief while Vasquez took the loss.
Wichita took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Jake Kahaulelio singled through the left side with one out and eventually scored on a wild pitch from Bears' starter Adam Gabel.
Newark scored four times in the bottom of the third to take a 4-1 lead. Trent Wilkins drew a leadoff walk and went to second on Travis Weaver's sacrifice bunt. Weaver reached first on an error. After Bridger Hunt flied out to right field, Wander Nunez tied the game with a double down the left field line. Jonny Kaplan made it 2-0 with a single to left-center. Kaplan went to second on Ernie Banks' grondout to third. Kyle Lafrenz drove in Nunez and Kaplan with a groundball single to left field.
McDonald doubled leading off the top of the fourth and scored two batters later on a single to right from Kahaulelio.
Wichita cut the lead to 4-3 in the top of the sixth on a Jonathan Davis solo home run to left-center. The home run was Davis' first career professional hit.
Newark scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to re-extend the lead to 8-3. Hunt, Kaplan, Lafrenz, and Sandy DeLeon had RBIs in the inning.
Chris Smith started for the Wingnuts and took a no-decision. Smith allowed eight runs, five earned, on nine hits over seven innings. Smith walked one and struck out seven.
Gabel also took a no-decision, allowing three earned runs on eight hits in six innings. Gabel walked three and struck out one.
10 different Wingnuts had at least one hit, while seven scored at least one run. Kahaulelio, Ziegler, Clevlen, Nieves, and McDonald all had multi-hit games. Daniel Bennett worked a scoreless relief inning for Wichita.
Game two of the three-game series is Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. Central Time. Justin Klipp starts for the Wingnuts. All the action can be heard locally on Oldies 92.7 KWME and worldwide at www.pressboxproductionsradio.com
The Wingnuts return home on Tuesday, August 13th when they host the Gary SouthShore RailCats. Individual tickets can be purchased by calling (316) 755-SEAT, or by visiting www.selectaseat.com.
Beginning this season, fans can use cash at all points of sale in Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Debit and credit cards will still be accepted.
For season tickets, group outings, or 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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