Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - August 25th, 2013

Published on August 25, 2013 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


KLIPP DEALS AGAINST AIRHOGS: The Wichita Wingnuts beat the Grand Prairie AirHogs 7-1 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Saturday night in the middle game of a three-game series. Justin Klipp allowed one earned run on three hits in 7.0 innings while pitching on three days of rest to pick up the win. CJ Ziegler collected three more RBI, including a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh. It was Ziegler's 28th of the season. Junior Guerra struck out two in the top of the eighth inning during his first relief appearance of the year. Daniel Bennett worked a scoreless top of the ninth.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE AIRHOGS: The Wingnuts are 14-15 all-time against the Grand Prairie AirHogs in the regular season, including a 10-2 mark at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The AirHogs beat the Wingnuts in four games in the 2011 Division Series en route to winning the American Association championship. The AirHogs joined the American Association with the Wingnuts in 2008 and reached the American Association Championship Series under current Laredo Lemurs' manager Pete Incaviglia. Ricky Van Asselberg is in his third year as AirHogs' skipper. Van Asselberg led Grand Prairie during their 2011 championship run, and also guided the Shreveport-Bossier Captains to an American Association title in 2010. Van Asselberg has won four championships in his first seven years as a professional manager, having won back-to-back United League crowns with the Alexandria Aces in 2006 and 2007. Late Wingnuts' bench coach Brian Rose served in the same capacity for the AirHogs during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Former Major Leaguer Brian Myrow returns for a second year in Grand Prairie. Derek Blacksher, who entered this season as the Wingnuts' all-time leader in wins and strikeouts, leads the AirHogs' rotation.

SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts are 62-30 and clinched the Central Division on August 23rd . Wichita just split a four-game series at Gary SouthShore. The AirHogs are 47-45 and in third place in the South Division, 3.5 games behind the Laredo Lemurs. The AirHogs also trail the Gary SouthShore RailCats by 5.5 games in the wild card standings. The Wingnuts rank first in the American Association in hitting (.297), first in pitching (3.33), and tied for first in fielding (.977). The AirHogs are 12th in batting (.264), sixth in pitching (4.24), and tied for seventh in defense (.974). The Wingnuts are 4-5 against the AirHogs this season.

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts go with right-hander Chris Smith who is 8-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 18 starts. Smith ranks tied for eighth in the American Association in wins, ninth in ERA, and fourth in strikeouts (103). Smith is also second in the league in batting average against (.231). Smith took a loss at Gary SouthShore last Tuesday in the opener of a double header, allowing seven runs, two earned, on six hits in 6.0 IP. Smith is 4-1 with a 3.16 ERA at home this season in eight starts. Smith has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 13 of 18 starts. Smith has walked two or fewer batters in 13 of 18 starts and has walked more than three batters in just one of them. Smith has pitched at least 6.0 innings in 17 of 18 starts and has pitched at least 5.0 innings in all of them. In his last 10 starts, Smith is 6-1 with a 2.35 ERA (18 ER, 69.0 IP). Smith is 1-0 with a 2.51 ERA in two starts against the AirHogs this season.

Prior to this season, Smith last pitched in 2011 for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners). Smith made 50 Major League relief appearances with the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers from 2008-2010. Prior to this season, his last start came on April 25th, 2009 with Boston's Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket in which he allowed one hit over 6.0 shutout innings to earn a win vs. Syracuse. In 2012, Smith was an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of California, Riverside.

Smith entered 2013 with a 42-39 career record with 61 saves and a 4.02 ERA in 10 professional seasons. During that span, Smith averaged 7.5 strikeouts against just 2.5 walks per nine innings in 771.0 career innings. Smith was drafted by the Red Sox in the 4th round in 2002 out of the University of California, Riverside. In addition to his time in the Majors, Smith has six years of experience at the Triple-A level, and has spent parts of four others in Double-A. In 2010, Smith saved 26 games for the Nashville Sounds, which led the Pacific Coast League, and ranked second overall at the Triple-A level.

The AirHogs go with right-hander Josh Strawn who is 8-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 19 starts. Strawn took a loss vs. Amarillo last Tuesday, allowing six earned runs on 11 hits in 11.0 IP. Strawn is 5-4 with a 5.31 ERA on the road this season in 10 starts. Strawn has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 12 of 19 starts and has allowed four or fewer earned runs in 17 of them. Strawn has walked two or fewer batters in 16 of 19 starts and has walked three or fewer batters in all of them. Strawn has pitched at least 6.0 innings in 15 of 19 starts and has pitched at least 5.0 innings in 18 of them. Strawn is 1-0 against the Wingnuts this year with a 2.25 ERA in two starts. All-time against the Wingnuts, Strawn is 2-0 with a 3.52 (12 ER, 30.2 IP) in five starts. Strawn made his professional debut against the Wingnuts on July 18th, 2011 while pitching for the Shreveport-Bossier Captains at Fairgrounds Field. Strawn took a no-decision, allowing two earned runs in 6.0 IP. The Wingnuts won the game 8-4. In his last four starts, Strawn is 0-3 with a 6.23 ERA (18 ER, 26.0 IP). From June 4th vs. Laredo (Game 1) to July 2nd vs. Wichita, Strawn pitched 31.1 consecutive innings without allowing a walk.

Strawn was 7-5 with a 4.13 ERA in 20 starts for the AirHogs last season. Strawn is in his third year of professional baseball and is 18-16 with a lifetime 4.15 ERA in 48 games, all of them as a starter. Strawn has averaged just 1.9 walks and 0.6 home runs per nine innings in his career. Strawn was signed by the Captains in 2011 after pitching collegiately at Southern Polytechnic University in Marietta, GA. Strawn was 6-5 with a 2.13 ERA in 88.2 IP for the Hornets as a senior in 2011.

WINGNUTS SIGN LAMBE: The Wingnuts signed right-hander Erik Lambe in advance of Friday's roster deadline. Lambe was 10-0 with a 2.33 ERA for the Pecos League's Roswell Invaders this season. Lambe struck out 66 and walked only 17 in 69.2 IP. Wichita placed outfielder Waylen Sing Chow on the Inactive List.

ZIEGLER TIES SING, NOW BATTLING PAHUTA: Wingnuts' first baseman CJ Ziegler hit his 27th home run of the year on August 21st at Gary SouthShore, tying Brandon Sing's (Sioux Falls, 2010) American Association single-season record. The following night, Sioux Falls' Tim Pahuta cracked his 27th and 28th homers of the season to pass Ziegler and break the league mark. Ziegler re-tied Pahuta on August 24th with his 28th homer. Entering Sunday, both teams have eight games left on their schedule.

ZIEGLER HITS FOR THE CYCLE: Wingnuts' first baseman CJ Ziegler hit for the first cycle in team history on August 21st at Gary SouthShore. Ziegler hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning, added a two-run triple in the third, and picked up an RBI double in the seventh. The single came in Ziegler's final at bat in the top of the ninth.

SETTING 'EM DOWN: The Wingnuts' pitching staff leads the American Association in strikeouts (720). Wichita is currently on pace for 783 strikeouts. The American Association team record is 738, set by the Laredo Lemurs in 2012. The Wingnuts have also had six starting pitching performances of 10 or more strikeouts this season. In their first five seasons combined, the Wingnuts had three performances of double digit strikeouts.

TRIPLE TRIPLE: With four strikeouts on August 22nd at Gary SouthShore, left-hander Anthony Capra became the third Wingnuts' pitcher to reach 100 or more strikeouts this season. Junior Guerra ranks first in the American Association with 123 strikeouts, which are also a new Wingnuts' single-season record. Chris Smith is fourth with 103. Capra ranks fifth at 101.

KAHAULELIO BREAKING RECORDS: Wingnuts' second baseman Jake Kahaulelio leads the American Association in runs scored (86). The 86 runs are a new Wingnuts' single-season record and surpass the 81 scored by Juan Richardson in 2011. Fehlandt Lentini (Amarillo, 2011) holds the American Association record for runs in a single season (98). Kahaulelio also leads the league in hit batsmen (22), which breaks both Jorge Delgado's (2011) team mark of 18, and David Thomas' (Grand Prairie, 2011) American Association record of 20. Kahaulelio won the American Association batting title last season (.372) and was named the league's all-star second baseman.

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 284-200 (.587) since taking over the club in 2009 and has guided the Wingnuts to four playoff berths. Hooper's .587 winning percentage is the highest among American Association managers over the last five years. His 284 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 28-18 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 (.363). 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 81 of 91 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 AND RBI KING: Wingnuts' first baseman CJ Ziegler is tied for first in the American Association in home runs (28) and ranks first in RBI (95). 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. On August 21st at Gary SouthShore, Ziegler collected four RBI to reach 90 for the year and break the Wingnuts' single-season mark. Greg Porter (2009) and Juan Richardson (2011) shared the previous record at 86. 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 98 home runs and first with 124 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 in steals. The 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 .234. Anthony Capra ranks first among starting pitchers at .225. Chris Smith ranks second at .231.

PITCHING STRONG: The Wingnuts rank first in the American Association with a 3.33 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 .297 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 first 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 185-105 (.638) 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 seven complete games, which ties a franchise single- season record. The Wingnuts also had seven complete games in 2009 and 2010.

TOUGH LOSSES: Of the Wingnuts' 30 losses this season, 16 have been by one run, three by two runs, and four by three runs. Wichita has held a lead at some point in 17 of their 30 losses.

GUERRA PROTECTING THE HOME FRONT: Wingnuts' right-hander Junior Guerra has excelled when pitching at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Guerra is 11-4 with a 2.87 ERA (44 ER, 138.0 IP) in 19 career starts and one relief appearance in Wichita.

'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 2.61 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 31.0 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 3.17 ERA in 48.1 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 6.39 ERA in five starts and four relief appearances. LHP Ryan Hinson was purchased by the Atlanta Braves on July 11th and is 3-3 with a 2.40 ERA in eight starts for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats.

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