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Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - August 4th, 2013

August 4, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WINGNUTS STRIKE LATE AGAIN: The Wichita Wingnuts beat the Newark Bears 9-2 on Saturday night at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Saturday night in game two of a three-game series. Trailing 2-1 in the top of the eighth, Wichita scored three runs to take their first lead. Jake Kahaulelio tied the game with a one-out, solo home run. Later in the inning, Abel Nieves singled to right field to drive in the go-ahead runs with two outs. Wichita broke the game open with a five-run top of the ninth inning, highlighted by a two-run single from John Rodriguez and a two-run homer from CJ Ziegler. Rodriguez homered in the top of the sixth for Wichita's first run. Justin Klipp earned the win, allowing two earned runs on six hits over 7.0 IP. Lincoln Holdzkom and Daniel Bennett each threw 1.0 scoreless inning of relief. The win evened the Wingnuts' record on their 16-game road trip at 4-4.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE BEARS: The Wingnuts are 2-0 all-time against the Can-Am League's Newark Bears, including a 2-0 mark at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium. This weekend marks the inaugural series between the two clubs. The Bears are an independent franchise that began play in the Atlantic League in 1998. Newark moved to the Can-Am League in 2011. Newark won Atlantic League championships in 2002 and 2007. Current Lincoln Saltdogs' manager Ken Oberkfell skippered the Bears in 2012. Former Major Leaguer Gary Templeton enters his first season as Newark's manager. Templeton played 16 years in the Majors from 1976-1991, collecting 2,096 base hits. Templeton has managed since 1998 and reached the Triple-A level in 2001 with the Pacific Coast League's Salt Lake Bees. Templeton managed the Gary SouthShore RailCats-then members of the Northern League-in 2003 and 2004. Templeton most recently managed the North American League's Maui Na Koa Ikaika in 2011. Former Major League pitcher Jorge Vasquez is in his second year as Newark's closer.

SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts are 48-25 and lead the Gary SouthShore RailCats by 5.0 games in the Central Division. The Wingnuts dropped two of three at El Paso. The Bears are 23-47 and in fifth place in the Can-Am League, 19.0 games behind the Quebec Capitales. The Wingnuts are second in the American Association in hitting (.294), first in pitching (3.36), and tied for third in fielding (.977). The Bears are second in the Can-Am League in batting (.271), fifth in pitching (5.26), and fifth in defense (.960).

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts go with right-hander Junior Guerra who is 7-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 14 starts. Guerra is tied for seventh in the American Association in wins, seventh in ERA, and tied for fifth in strikeouts (81). Guerra took a no-decision at El Paso on Monday, allowing six earned runs on eight hits over 5.0+ innings. Wichita lost the game 8-7. Guerra is 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA on the road this season in seven starts. Guerra has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 10 of 14 starts and has allowed more than four earned runs in three of them. Guerra has pitched at least 6.0 innings in 10 of 14 starts and has pitched at least 5.0 innings in all of them. In his last eight starts, Guerra is 4-2 with a 2.38 ERA (14 ER, 53.0 IP) and 50 strikeouts.

Guerra was 1-3 in five starts with a 5.46 ERA for the Leones de Yucatan in the Mexican League last year. Guerra allowed three or fewer earned runs in four of his five starts for the Leones. Guerra starred for the Wingnuts in 2011, posting a 9-3 record while finishing tied for ninth in the American Association in ERA (3.57) and seventh in strikeouts (103). Guerra was 8-1 with a 2.30 ERA over his final 12 regular season starts in 2011, and then allowed one earned run in 6.2 innings in Game One of the Division Series at Grand Prairie. On July 13th, 2011, Guerra worked the first 7.1 innings of a combined no-hitter over the Shreveport-Bossier Captains at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

As a pitcher, Guerra is 18-11 with a 3.84 ERA in 75 career games, 39 of them starts. Guerra is in his eighth year of professional baseball, and spent four years in the Atlanta Braves' farm system as a catcher. Guerra was signed by Atlanta as an international free agent in 2001.

The Bears go with left-hander Joe Testa who is 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA in four starts. Testa took a no-decision vs. Quebec on Monday, allowing three earned runs on seven hits over 5.2 IP. Newark won the game 5-4. Testa is 0-1 with a 3.57 ERA at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium in three starts. Testa has allowed three or fewer earned runs in three of four starts. Testa was acquired from the Amarillo Sox on July 6th in exchange for future considerations. Testa was 0-1 with one save and an 8.16 ERA for Amarillo in 17 relief outings. Testa originally signed with the Wingnuts during the offseason and was on Wichita's spring training roster.

Testa is in his sixth year of professional baseball and is 18-14 with a 3.66 ERA and 13 saves in 200 career outings, seven of them starts. Testa reached Double-A Harrisburg with the Washington National's organization last year. Testa signed with the Minnesota Twins as a non-drafted free agent in 2008 after a four-year career at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. Testa has averaged 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings in his career and just 0.5 home runs. Testa has held left- handed hitters to a .191 batting average in his professional career with 105 strikeouts.

NBC TRIP IS HERE AGAIN: The Wingnuts' annual NBC road trip started on Friday, July 26th at Grand Prairie. This year's trip spans 16 games over 17 days and totals 4,633 miles from start to finish via bus and plane. The Wingnuts face Grand Prairie and El Paso before flying to the east coast. Wichita then takes on three Can-Am League teams, including Newark, Rockland, and New Jersey.

BACKGROUND ON THE NBC WORLD SERIES: The National Baseball Congress World Series is the nation's largest amateur baseball tournament, and has been played at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita, KS every year since 1935. Hall of Famer Satchell Paige helped bring the event into prominence during its first year and still holds the tournament record for strikeouts (60). Paige had his number "17" retired at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium during last year's World Series. Since the 1970s, the tournament has been mostly comprised of college summer league teams. Games are played throughout the day for two weeks, including "Baseball 'Round the Clock" (17 games in 56 hours) during the tournament's halfway point. Former Major Leaguers that have appeared in the NBC World Series include Tom Seaver, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, and Tim Lincecum. Wingnuts that have played in the tournament include Kevin Hooper, Luke Robertson, Jake Kahaulelio, Anthony Capra, Josh Stone, and Ryan Scoles. Stone was the tournament's Pitcher of the Year in 2012 for the El Dorado (KS) Broncos.

NIEVES PACING THE LEAGUE: Wingnuts' third baseman Abel Nieves leads the American Association in batting average (.364). 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. On May 27th vs. Amarillo, Nieves picked up the 500th hit of his eight-year professional career. 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 65 of 72 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' first baseman CJ Ziegler is second in the American Association in home runs (20) and ranks first in RBI (72). Ziegler is just the third player in franchise history to reach 20 home runs in a single season, and is one homer shy of the team's single-season mark of 21 (Kelly Hunt and Greg Porter, 2009). 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.

STINGY ARMS: The Wingnuts' pitching staff ranks first in the American Association in opponents' batting average at .233. Anthony Capra ranks first among active starting pitchers at .214. Chris Smith ranks second at .231. Junior Guerra is seventh at .248. 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 3.36 team ERA. The Wingnuts ranked first in ERA in 2009 and 2010 while finishing third in 2011.

SWINGING STRONG: The Wingnuts rank second in the American Association with a .294 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 third 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 180-103 (.636) 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 is tied for the league lead with five 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' 25 losses this season, 14 have been by one run, two by two runs, and three by three runs. Wichita has held a lead at some point in 14 of their 24 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.

ZIEGLER NEW HOME RUN LEADER: Wingnuts' first baseman CJ Ziegler hit a solo home run on June 14th vs. St. Paul in the opener of a double header. It was Ziegler's ninth home run of 2013, and his 27th in a Wingnuts' uniform over the last two years, setting a new franchise record. Ryan Patterson (2010-11) held the previous record with 26 home runs.

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.

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.

ALL HE DOES IS WIN: Wingnuts' fifth-year manager Kevin Hooper is 270-195 (.581) since taking over in 2009. Hooper has guided the Wingnuts to four consecutive winning seasons, as well as three playoff berths. Hooper's .581 winning percentage is the highest among American Association managers over the last five years. His 270 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.

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 3.38 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 21.1 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 3.67 ERA in 41.2 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas). RHP Jon Link was purchased by the Detroit Tigers in 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 0-3 with a 7.80 ERA in three starts. LHP Ryan Hinson was purchased by the Atlanta Braves on July 11th and is 1-2 with a 1.73 ERA in four starts for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats.

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