Wichita Takes Series Opener from Sioux City
June 23, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, Kans. - The Wichita Wingnuts began a seven-game homestand with a 6-3 win over the Sioux City Explorers Thursday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
After squandering opportunities with runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings, the Wingnuts (19-14) broke through against Bryan Escanio (0-1) in the third. T.J. Mittelstaedt broke the scoreless deadlock, hammering a triple into the right field corner to make it 2-0. Wichita added a third a couple batters later, as Richard Prigatano doubled Mittelstaedt in.
The Wingnuts maintained their three-run edge all the way until the sixth. Tim Brown (3-2) cruised for the majority of the night, yielding just two hits over his first five scoreless frames. Sioux City (15-18) strung together three straight two-out knocks against Brown in the sixth, with Noah Perio Jr. knocking in two runs with a single.
Brown bounced back after surrendering the two runs in the sixth, retiring the Explorers in order in the seventh, his final inning of work. The righty turned in his third quality start of the season, trailing only Jon Link for the club lead.
Prigatano answered in the home half of the sixth for Wichita, taking Escanio deep for his third home run of the campaign and his career-high tying third hit of the night.
Wichita then tacked on two more in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Brent Clevlen and Mittelstaedt each collected run-producing singles, with Mittelstaedt's giving him three RBIs on the night and a team-leading 27 for the season.
Sioux City got one run closer in the eighth on a solo homer by Ralph Henriquez, before Frankie Reed came on to close it out in the ninth for his seventh save.
The Wingnuts and Explorers continue their three-game set Friday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Veteran southpaw Charlie Leesman (2-2, 4.90) will be on the mound for Wichita, while Sioux City will counter with right-hander Graham Johnson (3-1, 4.76). First pitch is set for 7:05, and the game can be heard on 1410 AM KGSO, as well as on TuneIn.
For information on 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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