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Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - August 15th, 2013

August 15, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WINGNUTS AND RAILCATS SPLIT DOUBLE HEADER: The Wichita Wingnuts split a double header against the Gary SouthShore RailCats at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Wednesday, winning the opener 2-1 and dropping the nightcap 10-5. Abel Nieves drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh in the opener with a double to right-center field. Nick Walters earned the win in relief with a scoreless top of the seventh. Chris Smith started and took a no-decision, allowing one earned run over 6.0 IP. CJ Ziegler hit his 23rd home run of the season in the bottom of the third.

The RailCats scored in five straight innings during game two, including seven unanswered runs after the Wingnuts briefly tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the second. Justin Klipp took the loss, allowing seven runs, five earned, on five hits in 3.0+ IP. Wichita combined for 10 walks in the loss. Nieves had two hits and another RBI. Ryan Khoury homered in the bottom of the seventh. The Wingnuts are now 0-1-3 in double headers this season.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE RAILCATS: The Wingnuts are 14-10 all-time against the Gary SouthShore RailCats, including an 8-4 mark at Lawrence- Dumont Stadium. Gary SouthShore joined the American Association in 2011 after spending the previous nine seasons in the Northern League. RailCats' manager Greg Tagert is in his ninth season. Tagert guided the RailCats to the playoffs in each of his first six years, and won Northern League Championships in 2005 and 2007. Tagert was named Northern League Manager of the Year in 2007 and 2009. Tagert entered 2013 with an 844-685 (.552) career managerial record, which includes nine years of service in the Frontier League. Tagert has never had a losing season in any of his 17 years as a professional manager and holds the Frontier League record for all-time wins. The Wingnuts and RailCats battled neck and neck for the 2011 Central Division title with the Wingnuts clinching the division by 1.0 game on the final day of the regular season. Wichita swept a key, three-game series from the RailCats at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in late-August of that year. The sweep vaulted the Wingnuts into first place for the remainder of the season. US Steel Yard opened in 2003 after the RailCats were forced to play their inaugural season exclusively on the road. Mike Massaro, the American Association's all-time leader in triples, returns for a fifth season with the RailCats.

SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts are 56-27 and lead the Gary SouthShore RailCats by 8.5 games in the Central Division. The Wingnuts took two of the three from the Can-Am League's New Jersey Jackals last weekend. The RailCats are 47-35 and trail the Wingnuts by 8.5 games in the Central. The RailCats lead the Winnipeg Goldeyes by 2.5 games in the wild card race. The Wingnuts rank first in the American Association in hitting (.296), first in pitching (3.43), and tied for second in fielding (.977). The RailCats are 10th in the league in batting (.269), third in pitching (4.01), and tied for sixth in defense (.975). The Wingnuts are 4-5 against the RailCats this season. The teams have a fourth head-to-head series scheduled for next week in Gary, IN.

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts go with left-hander Anthony Capra who is 6-2 with a 3.87 ERA in 13 starts and five relief outings. Capra ranks eighth in the American Association in strikeouts (89) and first among active starting pitchers in batting average against (.208). Capra picked up a win at New Jersey last Saturday in the second game of a double header, allowing one earned run on four hits over 6.0 IP with seven strikeouts. Capra is 6-2 as a starting pitcher with a 4.12 ERA (31 ER, 67.2 IP). Capra is 2-1 with a 4.01 ERA at home this season in six starts and two relief outings. All-time at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, Capra is 3-1 with a 3.90 ERA (24 ER, 55.1 IP) in 10 starts and two relief appearances. Capra has allowed four or fewer earned runs in 12 of 13 starts. Capra has allowed five or fewer hits in 10 of 13 starts. Capra has pitched at least 5.0 innings in 11 of 13 starts.

Capra is 27-37 in six professional seasons with a 4.20 ERA in 125 games, 111 of them starts. Capra was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 4th round in 2008 out of Wichita State University. Capra reached Triple-A Sacramento in 2011, and has averaged 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings during his career. Capra was Oakland's Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2009 after posting a 3.20 ERA with 170 strikeouts in 152.0 IP between two levels of their farm system. Capra was an All-American and a Missouri Valley Conference All-Star during his junior season in 2008, going 9-1 with a 3.54 ERA and helping Wichita State reach the NCAA Super Regionals. Capra is the 10th former Shocker to play for the Wingnuts.

The RailCats go with right-hander Billy Spottiswood who is 5-3 with a 3.34 ERA in 10 starts and eight relief appearances. Spottiswood is tied for sixth in the American Association in ERA. Spottiswood took a loss at Lincoln last Saturday, allowing three runs, one earned, on eight hits in 6.0 IP. Spottiswood was signed on June 15th after being released by the St. Paul Saints on June 10th . Spottiswood is 5-2 with a 3.36 ERA in 10 starts and one relief outing since joining the RailCats. Spottiswood is 2-1 with a 2.87 ERA on the road with Gary SouthShore in five starts and one relief outing. As a starting pitcher, Spottiswood is 5-2 with a 3.41 ERA (23 ER, 60.2 IP). Spottiswood has allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of 10 starts. Spottiswood has walked two or fewer batters in nine of 10 starts and has not walked more than three batters in any of them. Spottiswood has pitched at least 6.0 innings in seven of 10 starts and has pitched at least 5.0 innings in nine of them. Spottiswood is 0-0 against the Wingnuts this season in one start and one relief appearance with a 1.80 ERA (1 ER, 5.0 IP). Spottiswood is 0-0 all-time against the Wingnuts with a 1.00 ERA (1 ER, 9.0 IP) in one start and four relief outings.

Prior to this season, Spottiswood's last start came on July 8th, 2010 while pitching for the High-A California League's Visalia Oaks in the Arizona Diamondbacks' organization. Spottiswood allowed four earned runs in 4.1 IP in a no-decision at High Desert. Spottiswood is 36-32 with 37 saves and a 3.52 ERA in seven professional seasons. Spottiswood was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 25th round in 2007 out of California State University, Chico, and reached Triple-A Reno in both 2009 and 2010. Spottiswood has averaged just 2.5 walks per nine innings in his career.

ZIEGLER AND PAHUTA CHASE SING, EACH OTHER: Wingnuts' first baseman CJ Ziegler ranks second in the American Association with 23 home runs. Sioux Falls' Tim Pahuta paces the league with 24. The American Association single-season record is 27, held by Brandon Sing of the Sioux Falls Pheasants in 2010. Entering Thursday, both Wichita and Sioux Falls have 17 games remaining on their schedules.

KAHAULELIO APPROACHING TEAM, LEAGUE RECORDS: Wingnuts' second baseman Jake Kahaulelio leads the American Association in runs scored (79). The team record is 81, held by Juan Richardson in 2011. Kahaulelio also ranks first in the league in hit batsmen (17). Wichita's club record is 18, set by Jorge Delgado in 2011. Fehlandt Lentini (Amarillo, 2011) holds the American Association record for runs scored in a single season (98). David Thomas (Grand Prairie, 2011) holds the league record for most HBP (20). Kahaulelio won the American Association batting title last season (.372) and was named the league's all-star second baseman.

RODRIGUEZ NAMED BATTER OF THE WEEK: Wingnuts' DH John Rodriguez was named the American Association's Batter of the Week on Monday. Rodriguez was 12 for 27 (.444) with three home runs and 13 RBI. Wichita went 6-1 during the seven-game stretch. Rodriguez is Wichita's fourth Batter of the Week honoree this season and the sixth Wingnuts player to earn league honors.

ROSTER NOTES: The Wingnuts released outfielder Jonathan Davis and right-handed pitcher Ryan Scoles on Monday.

HOOPER FIVE FOR FIVE: The Wingnuts won their 51st game of the season on August 6th at Rockland, clinching a winning season under manager Kevin Hooper for a fifth time in five years. Hooper is 278-197 (.585) since taking over the club in 2009 and has guided the Wingnuts to three playoff berths. Hooper's .585 winning percentage is the highest among American Association managers over the last five years. His 278 wins also rank first during that stretch. Hooper was a member of a team that made the playoffs in eight different seasons over his 10-year playing career. Hooper was also a member of Wichita State University's College World Series team in 1996. The Shockers reached the NCAA tournament in all four of Hooper's collegiate seasons, and posted a composite .815 winning percentage.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Wingnuts finished their annual NBC road trip with an 11-5 record. At 26-16 away from Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, the Wingnuts have clinched a winning record on the road for a second straight year. Wichita's first winning road record was in 2012 (27-22).

NIEVES PACING THE LEAGUE: Wingnuts' third baseman Abel Nieves leads the American Association in batting average (.372). Wichita has had a player win the batting title in three of its first five seasons. Kevin Hooper won by 40 points in 2008 at .373, Greg Porter topped the league with a .372 mark in 2009, and Jake Kahaulelio finished first with a .372 average in 2012. Nieves had a 19-game hitting streak from June 8th -26th (38 for 76, .500) which ranks tied for the second-longest in team history (Greg Porter 2009 and Jorge Delgado 2010). The team record is held by Josh Horn, who hit safely in 20 consecutive games from August 29th, 2009 through June 5th, 2010. Nieves finished second in the Frontier League in batting average last year, hitting .320 for the Joliet Slammers. Nieves reached the Triple-A level three times with the Los Angeles Angels' organization.

KHOURY SETTING THE TABLE: Wingnuts' shortstop Ryan Khoury has reached base in 74 of 82 games this season with a hit, walk, or hit by pitch. Khoury reached base in 87 of 100 games in 2012, and was named the American Association's Defensive Player of the Year. Khoury also ranked in the top-four in the league in runs scored, walks, and stolen bases. On June 26th vs. Laredo, Khoury missed his first game since joining the Wingnuts last year. Including the postseason, Khoury had started 145 consecutive games both at shortstop and in the leadoff spot, and missed just five total innings in the field during that stretch. Prior to June 26th, the last time a Wingnuts' player other than Khoury started at shortstop was September 4th, 2011 when Josh Horn started Game Four of the Division Series vs. Grand Prairie. Jimmy Mojica was the last Wingnuts' player to bat leadoff, which was also on September 4th, 2011.

ZIEGLER CLEANING THE TABLE, WINGNUTS' NEW HOME RUN KING: Wingnuts' first baseman CJ Ziegler is second in the American Association in home runs (23) and ranks first in RBI (80). On August 8th at Rockland, Ziegler set a franchise single-season record with his 22nd home run of the season, besting Kelly Hunt and Greg Porter who each hit 21 home runs in 2009. In the opener of a double header vs. St. Paul on June 14th, Ziegler hit his ninth home run of 2013 and his 27th in a Wingnuts' uniform over the last two years, passing Ryan Patterson (2010-11) for the most in franchise history. Ziegler is only the third player in team history to reach the 20 home run plateau. Ziegler tied a Wingnuts' single-game record with seven RBI on June 24th vs. Laredo. Last season, Ziegler ranked tied for third in the American Association with 18 home runs in just 58 games played. Ziegler has helped his team reach the playoffs in each of his first five professional seasons.

POWER AND SPEED: The Wingnuts offense has benefited from a rare mix of power and speed. Wichita ranks first in the American Association with 92 home runs and first with 110 stolen bases. Wichita led the American Association with 86 home runs in 2009, which stood as a franchise single-season record until this year. The Wingnuts have never led the league steals. Their franchise-best for stolen bases is 150 set in 2012.

STINGY ARMS: The Wingnuts' pitching staff ranks first in the American Association in opponents' batting average at .235. Anthony Capra ranks first among active starting pitchers at .208. Chris Smith ranks second at .229. Junior Guerra is 10th at .254. Ryan Hinson, who was recently purchased by the Atlanta Braves, ranks first overall at .193.

PITCHING STRONG: The Wingnuts rank first in the American Association with a 3.43 team ERA. The Wingnuts ranked first in ERA in 2009 and 2010 while finishing third in 2011.

SWINGING STRONG: The Wingnuts rank first in the American Association with a .296 team batting average. Over the last two seasons, the Wingnuts have finished first and second respectively in the league batting race.

GLOVE WORK: The Wingnuts are tied for second in the American Association with a .977 fielding percentage. Wichita has led the league in defense in three of their first five years of existence (2008, 2009, 2012), and finished second in 2011. The Wingnuts hold the American Association record for team fielding percentage at .980, which they accomplished in both 2009 and 2012.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Wingnuts are 181-104 (.635) all-time at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. It is the highest home winning percentage for any American Association team since the Wingnuts began play in 2008.

SCORELESS BALL: The Wingnuts have posted seven shutouts as a team this season. The franchise record for shutouts in a single season is nine, set in both 2010 and 2011.

COMPLETE ME: The Wingnuts' pitching staff ranks tied for first in the American Association with six complete games. Wichita's club record for complete games in a single season is seven, set in both 2009 and 2010.

TOUGH LOSSES: Of the Wingnuts' 27 losses this season, 14 have been by one run, three by two runs, and three by three runs. Wichita has held a lead at some point in 14 of their 27 losses.

GUERRA PROTECTING THE HOME FRONT: Wingnuts' right-hander Junior Guerra has excelled when pitching at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Guerra is 11-3 with a 2.93 ERA (42 ER, 129.0 IP) all-time in Wichita over 18 starts.

'J-ROD' REACHES MAJOR MILESTONES: Wingnuts' DH John Rodriguez hit a two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning on July 8th vs. Amarillo for the 1,500th base hit of his 17-year professional career. The home run also have Rodriguez 902 career RBI. On July 18th vs. Lincoln, Rodriguez set the Wingnuts' franchise record for RBI (126) with a two-out, RBI double in the bottom of the fifth inning. Josh Horn (2009-11) held the previous team record with 125 RBI.

KHOURY BREAKS TEAM STEALS RECORD: Wingnuts' shortstop Ryan Khoury set a franchise record with his 47th stolen base on July 6th vs. Amarillo. Josh Horn (2009-11) held the previous record with 46. Last year, Khoury established a Wingnuts' single-season record with 37 stolen bases, surpassing current manager Kevin Hooper's mark of 34 set in 2008.

BACK-TO-BACK: John Rodriguez and CJ Ziegler hit back-to-back home runs on consecutive pitches in the bottom of the third inning in game one of a double header on Friday, June 14th vs. St. Paul. They were the first back-to-back home runs for the Wingnuts since July 26th, 2011 when Josh Horn and Brent Clevlen accomplished the feat vs. Fargo-Moorhead. Ziegler and Clevlen homered on back-to-back pitches on Monday, June 24th vs. Laredo, while Clevlen and Abel Nieves hit back-to-back home runs on August 8th at Rockland.

GRAND SLAM TIME: On Tuesday, June 11th at Winnipeg, Abel Nieves hit the Wingnuts' first grand slam home run since August 27th, 2011 when Juan Richardson hit a bases loaded 'big fly' in a 19-2 rout at El Paso. Wichita hit .309 as a team with the bases loaded in 2012, and was hitting .400 with the sacks full going into June 11th of this year, but had gone 126 consecutive games without a grand slam. CJ Ziegler hit the Wingnuts' second grand slam of 2013 on June 28th vs. Sioux City. Jake Kahaulelio smacked the first walk-off grand slam in team history on July 23rd at Amarillo.

ALUMNI REPORT: RHP Matt Nevarez (2011-12) has a 2.31 ERA for the Double-A Southern League's Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay) with 13 strikeouts in 11.2 IP. RHP James Hoyt (2012) was recently promoted to the Double-A Southern League's Mississippi Braves (Atlanta) and has a 2.77 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 26.0 IP. Hoyt posted a 4.89 ERA with 72 strikeouts in just 49.2 IP earlier this year for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats. LHP and Wingnuts' co-owner Nate Robertson (2012) has a 3.43 ERA in 44.2 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas). RHP Jon Link was purchased by the Detroit Tigers on June 19th and went 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA in five starts for the Double-A Eastern League's Erie SeaWolves. Link was recently promoted to Triple-A Toledo and is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in three starts and four relief appearances. LHP Ryan Hinson was purchased by the Atlanta Braves on July 11th and is 2-2 with a 2.13 ERA in six starts for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats.

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