Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - July 27th, 2013

July 27, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WINGNUTS FALL SHORT IN GRAND PRAIRIE: The Wichita Wingnuts lost 3-2 to the Grand Prairie AirHogs on Friday night at QuikTrip Park in the opener of a three-game series. AirHogs' left fielder Bubba Dotson hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth that provided the game's final margin. Wichita scored both of its runs in the top of the first on a John Rodriguez double play and an Abel Nieves RBI single. Wingnuts' starter Anthony Capra took a no-decision, allowing one earned run on three hits over five innings. Capra struck out seven and walked one. Nick Walters and Andrew Aizenstadt combined for 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE AIRHOGS: The Wingnuts are 11-14 all-time against the Grand Prairie AirHogs during the regular season, including a 3-12 mark at QuikTrip Park. 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. Former Wingnuts' relief pitcher Justin Dowdy is also in his second year with the AirHogs, and is playing under Van Asselberg for a third different team in his career. 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 44-22 and lead the Gary SouthShore RailCats by 5.0 games in the Central Division. Wichita just won two of three from the Amarillo Sox. Grand Prairie is 35-29 and trails the Amarillo Sox by 0.5 games in the South Division. The AirHogs are 3.0 games back of the RailCats in the wild card race. The Wingnuts are second in the American Association in hitting (.293), first in pitching (3.12), and third in fielding (.977). The AirHogs are tied for eighth in batting (.270), sixth in pitching (4.24), and ninth in defense (.973). The AirHogs took three of four from the Wingnuts at QuikTrip Park earlier this month. Grand Prairie visits Wichita in late-August.

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts go with right-hander Chris Smith who is 7-3 with a 3.40 ERA in 13 starts. Smith is tied for fifth in the American Association in wins, eighth in ERA, and second in strikeouts (81). Smith struck out 12 and earned the win last Sunday vs. Lincoln, allowing one earned run on three hits over 6.2 IP. Smith is 3-3 with a 3.38 ERA on the road this season in seven starts. Smith has allowed three or fewer earned runs in nine of 13 starts and has allowed more than four earned runs in just three of them. Smith has walked three or fewer batters in 12 of 13 starts and has walked two or fewer batters in eight of them. Smith has pitched at least 6.0 innings in 12 of 13 starts, and has pitched at least 5.0 innings in all of them. Smith has pitched into the seventh inning in each of his last six starts. Smith beat Grand Prairie on July 5th at QuikTrip Park, allowing one earned run on five hits in 7.1 IP. The win snapped a four- game losing streak and sparked a franchise record 13-game winning streak.

Prior to this season, Smith last pitched in 2011 for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle). 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 left-hander Gabriel Garcia who is 0-0 with a 4.05 ERA in one start and one relief outing since signing with Grand Prairie on July 15th . Garcia last pitched in relief last Saturday at St. Paul, allowing one unearned run in 1.0 inning. Garcia took a no-decision in a start at St. Paul last Thursday, allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits in 5.2 IP. Grand Prairie lost the game 8-5.

Garcia is in his seventh year of professional baseball and is 10-18 with five saves and a 4.58 ERA in 110 games, 22 of them as a starter. Garcia signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2007 and reached High-A Lancaster in Houston's farm system in 2012. Garcia has averaged 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings against only 1.8 walks in his career.

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 Ne w Jersey. Since Kevin Hooper took over as manager in 2009, the Wingnuts have fared well on the annual excursion. Wichita was 9-7 in 2009, 7-5 in 2010, 7-6 in 2011, and 9-6 in 2012.

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, 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 (.367). 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 58 of 65 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 tied for first in the American Association in home runs (18) and ranks first in RBI (64). 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.

PITCHING STRONG: The Wingnuts rank first in the American Association with a 3.12 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 .293 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 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' 22 losses this season, 13 have been by one run, two by two runs, and three by three runs. Wichita has held a lead at some point in 12 of their 22 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 266-192 (.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 266 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 3.93 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 18.1 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 3.60 ERA in 40.0 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 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts. LHP Ryan Hinson was purchased by the Atlanta Braves on July 11th and is 0-1 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats.



American Association Stories from July 27, 2013


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