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Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - July 28th, 2013

July 28, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WINGNUTS RALLY LATE AGAINST AIRHOGS: The Wichita Wingnuts beat the Grand Prairie AirHogs 4-3 at QuikTrip Park on Saturday night in the second game of a three- game series. The AirHogs rallied for three two-out runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 3-2 lead before the Wingnuts mounted a two-out rally of their own in the top of the eighth. Brent Clevlen tripled home CJ Ziegler from first base to tie the game and then scored the go-ahead run on Abel Nieves' single to center. Lincoln Holdzkom struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth while Josh Dew worked a perfect ninth to earn his 15th save. Chris Smith started for Wichita and took a no-decision, allowing three earned runs on three hits over 6.2 IP.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE AIRHOGS: The Wingnuts are 12-14 all-time against the Grand Prairie AirHogs during the regular season, including a 4-12 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 45-22 and lead the Gary SouthShore RailCats by 6.0 games in the Central Division. Wichita just won two of three from the Amarillo Sox. Grand Prairie is 35-30 and trails the Laredo Lemurs 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 (.292), first in pitching (3.12), and third in fielding (.977). The AirHogs are ninth in batting (.268), sixth in pitching (4.24), and tied for 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 Justin Klipp in the rubber game of their three-game series. Klipp is 4-1 with a 3.23 ERA in eight starts and one relief appearance. Klipp allowed four earned runs on six hits over 6.0 IP last Tuesday vs. Amarillo in a no-decision. The game was suspended due to rain and the Wingnuts won 8-4 after play resumed the following evening. Klipp is 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA on the road this season in three starts and one relief outing. Klipp has allowed two or fewer earned runs in five of eight starts and has allowed more than three earned runs in just two of them. Klipp has walked one or zero batters in all eight of his starts. Klipp has pitched at least 6.0 innings in seven of eight starts and has pitched into the seventh inning in five of them. Klipp took a loss at Grand Prairie on July 2nd, allowing two earned runs on six hits over 7.0 IP.

Klipp was purchased from the United League's Edinburg Roadrunners on June 9th where he was 2-1 in three starts with a 1.24 ERA. Klipp had 36 strikeouts in just 21.1 IP while allowing only 18 hits. Klipp had a pair of 14-strikeout games while with Edinburg.

Klipp is a 28-year old true rookie who has recovered from a pair of back injuries. Klipp played college baseball at Cal State Fullerton from 2006-07, going 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA in 37.2 IP as a senior. Klipp was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 22nd round in 2007, and was also selected by the Texas Rangers in the 29th round out of Calabasas High School in Calabasas, CA.

The AirHogs go with right-hander Derek Blacksher who is 6-5 with a 4.81 ERA in 12 starts. Blacksher allowed four earned runs on nine hits over 6.0 IP in a win vs. El Paso last Tuesday. Blacksher is 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA at home this season in six starts. Blacksher has allowed three or fewer earned runs in seven of 12 starts and has allowed more than four earned runs in just two of them. Blacksher has walked one or zero batters in 11 of 12 starts and has walked two or fewer batters in all of them. Blacksher has pitched at least 6.0 innings in nine of 12 starts. Blacksher is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in one start and one relief appearance in his career against the Wingnuts. Both appearances came with the Fort Worth Cats in 2011.

Blacksher entered this season as the Wingnuts' franchise leader in wins (26), strikeouts (218), starts (52), innings pitched (337.1), and postseason starts (4). Blacksher pitched for the Wingnuts in 2009 and was named the American Association's Right-Handed Pitcher of the Year after leading the league with 11 wins. Blacksher returned to the Wingnuts in 2011 in a trade with Fort Worth and helped Wichita win back-to-back Central Division titles the last two seasons. Blacksher was 26-10 with a 4.00 ERA for the Wingnuts in 52 starts and one relief outing.

Blacksher was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 33rd round in 2007 out of McNeese State University. Blacksher is in his seventh season of professional baseball and is 50- 38 in his career with a 4.43 ERA in 135 games, 104 of them starts. Blacksher has averaged just 2.7 walks per nine innings in his career. Blacksher has won 10 or more games in a season three times in his career. Blacksher has been his team's opening night starter each of the last four years.

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 59 of 66 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 second 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.

STINGY ARMS: The Wingnuts' pitching staff ranks first in the American Association in opponents' batting average at .225. Anthony Capra ranks first among active starting pitchers at .206. Chris Smith ranks third at .223. Junior Guerra is fifth at .240. 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 3.12 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 .292 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 267-192 (.582) since taking over in 2009. Hooper has guided the Wingnuts to four consecutive winning seasons, as well as three playoff berths. Hooper's .582 winning percentage is the highest among American Association managers over the last five years. His 267 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 0-2 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats.



American Association Stories from July 28, 2013


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