Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - June 12th, 2013

June 12, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WINGNUTS BOUNCE BACK BIG: The Wichita Wingnuts evened their three-game series at Winnipeg with an 11-0 win over the Goldeyes on Tuesday night. Jon Link earned his league-leading fifth win of the season, tossing 8.0 shutout innings and striking out six. Wichita scored an early run on a John Rodriguez sacrifice fly in the top of the first, and then broke things open in the middle innings. Abel Nieves cracked a grand slam home run in the top of the fifth-the first for a Wingnuts' hitter since August 27th, 2011-while Jared McDonald hit a three-run shot in the top of the sixth. McDonald finished with three hits. Eight different Wingnuts had at least one hit, while all nine starters scored at least one run. David Amberson singled in the fifth to extend his hitting streak to 11 games in a row. Josh Dew threw a perfect bottom of the ninth to finish the game.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE GOLDEYES: The Wingnuts are 5-6 all-time against the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the regular season, including a 4-4 mark at Shaw Park. The Goldeyes beat the Wingnuts in last year's American Association Championship Series three games to none. It marked Winnipeg's first championship in 18 years since winning the Northern League title during their inaugural season in 1994. The Goldeyes have posted a winning record in 17 of 19 seasons, made the playoffs in 16 of them, and reached their league's championship series eight times. The Goldeyes made seven appearances in the Northern League Championship Series during a 10-year span from 1994-2003. Winnipeg is in its third season in the American Association after spending 17 years in the Northern League. Rick Forney is in his eighth season as Goldeyes' manager, and pitched four seasons for Winnipeg from 1997-2000. Forney was 89-56 with a 3.63 ERA in 10 professional seasons.

SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts are 16-8 and lead the Lincoln Saltdogs by 2.5 games in the Central Division. The Wingnuts split a rain-shortened two-game series at St. Paul. The Goldeyes are 13-12 and in third place in the North Division, 0.5 game behind the St. Paul Saints and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Winnipeg was just swept in a three-game series at Fargo-Moorhead. The Wingnuts are first in the league in batting (.293), first in pitching (3.16), and third in fielding (.979). The Goldeyes are fifth in hitting (.281), fifth in pitching (4.14), and ninth in defense (.970).

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts go with right-hander Chris Smith who is 2-2 with a 4.65 ERA in five starts. Smith took a loss at St. Paul on Friday, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits in 6.1 IP. Smith is 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA in three starts on the road this season. Smith has allowed four or fewer earned runs in four of five starts. Smith has allowed two or fewer walks in four of five starts, and has not walked more than three batters in any of them. Smith has pitched at least 6.0 innings in four of five starts, and has pitched at least 5.0 innings in all of them.

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.

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 saves 26 games for the Nashville Sounds, which led the Pacific Coast League, and ranked second overall at the Triple-A level.

The Goldeyes go with left-hander Mark Hardy who is 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA in five starts. Hardy took a loss on Friday at Fargo-Moorhead, allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits in 6.0 IP. Hardy ranks third in the American Association in ERA. Hardy is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA at home in two starts this season. Hardy has allowed two or fewer earned runs in all five of his starts. He has walked three or fewer batters in four of five starts, and has pitched at least 6.0 innings in all of them.

Hardy spent last season with four San Diego Padres' affiliates, going a combined 3-6 with a 4.71 ERA in 10 starts and 12 relief appearances. Hardy was drafted by the Padres in the 43rd round in 2010 out of the University of British Columbia. Hardy is in his fourth year of professional baseball with a career 22-22 record and a 3.32 ERA. Hardy has averaged 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings versus just 2.3 walks in his career. Hardy twice reached Double-A San Antonio while with the Padres.

GRAND SLAM TIME: On Tuesday night, Abel Nieves hit the Wingnuts' first grand slam home run since Juan Richardson hit a bases loaded 'big fly' on August 27th, 2011 in a 19-2 rout at El Paso. Wichita hit .309 as a team with the bases loaded last season, and entered last night hitting .400 in 2013, but had gone 126 consecutive games without a grand slam.

STRONGEST LINK: With 8.0 shutout innings on Tuesday night, Jon Link has now thrown 18.1 consecutive scoreless frames dating back to his start on June 1st at Sioux Falls. Link also lowered his ERA to a league-best 1.69, and currently tops the American Association with five wins. The Wingnuts' record for most consecutive scoreless innings by a starting pitcher is 26.2 done by Nick Singleton in 2011.

ZIEGLER TIES FRANCHISE RECORD: Wingnuts' first baseman CJ Ziegler hit his eighth home run of the season on Monday, June 10th at Winnipeg. It was his 26th home run in a Wingnuts' uniform over the last two years, tying him with Ryan Patterson for the most in franchise history.

RAINOUT NOTES: Sunday's postponement at St. Paul (June 9th ) was the Wingnuts' first of the season. Wichita's last rainout was on August 23rd, 2012 at El Paso, which was the Wingnuts' first (home or away) since August 8th, 2010. Including the postseason, the Wingnuts had gone 212 consecutive games without the full postponement of a game.

WINGNUTS SIGN KLIPP: The Wingnuts signed right-handed pitcher Justin Klipp on Sunday. Klipp was scheduled to start the series finale at St. Paul. Klipp was acquired from the United League's Edinburg Roadrunners in exchange for cash. Klipp was 2-1 with a 1.24 ERA for Edinburg, striking out 36 batters in 21.1 IP. Klipp is a 28-year-old true rookie who was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 22nd round in 2007 out of Cal State Fullerton, but did not pitch due to a pair of back injuries.

'AMBO' ROLLING: Wingnuts' rookie right fielder David Amberson has hit safely in 11 games in a row (16 for 38, .421). Amberson is also 20 for 47 (.426) over his last 14 games with 10 runs scored and 10 RBI.

ABEL HEATING UP: Wingnuts' third baseman Abel Nieves is 21 for 63 (.333) in his last 18 games with 14 runs scored and 14 walks. Nieves hit .320 for the Joliet Slammers last year, which ranked second in the Frontier League. On May 27th vs. Amarillo, Nieves picked up the 500th hit of his professional career.

PITCHING STRONG: The Wingnuts rank first in the American Association with a 3.16 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 .293 team batting average. Over the last two seasons, the Wingnuts have finished first and second respectively in the league batting race.

500 FOR CAPRA: Wingnuts' left-hander Anthony Capra struck out five batters on Tuesday, June 4th vs. El Paso. Capra's third strikeout during the start was the 500th of his professional career. The former Shocker fanned 170 between two levels of the Oakland Athletics' farm system in 2009 en route to being named their Organizational Pitcher of the Year.

HINSON CLIMBING THE RANKS: Ryan Hinson won his 23rd game in a Wingnuts' uniform on June 8th at St. Paul. Hinson ranks second all-time in team history in victories, and trails Derek Blacksher (2009, 2011-12) for first place (26 wins). Hinson's 206 strikeouts rank second all-time, and are 12 shy of tying Blacksher for first place.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Wingnuts are 160-96 (.625) 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.

FRONT LINERS PROTECTING THE HOME FRONT: Third-year Wingnuts' starter Ryan Hinson has excelled when pitching at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Including the postseason, Hinson is 14-6 with a 3.35 ERA (59 ER, 158.1 IP) over 24 starts and two relief appearances. Junior Guerra-who is in his second overall season with the Wingnuts-is 8-2 with a 2.78 ERA (30 ER, 97.0 IP) all-time at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in 14 starts.

FAMILIAR FACES: Nine players return from the Wingnuts' 2012 team that reached the American Association Championship Series. They include SS Ryan Khoury, 2B Jake Kahaulelio, DH John Rodriguez, 1B CJ Ziegler, CF Jared McDonald, LHP Ryan Hinson, LHP Anthony Capra, RHP Josh Dew, and LHP Nick Walters. RHP Junior Guerra, who starred for the Wingnuts in 2011, has also returned for 2013.

RETIREMENTS: Five players from last year's team have opted to retire from professional baseball. They include OF Mike Conroy, RHP Jared Simon, RHP James Baker, C Jessie Mier, and OF Steve Stanley.

ALL HE DOES IS WIN: Wingnuts' fifth-year manager Kevin Hooper is 238-178 (.572) since taking over in 2009. Hooper has guided the Wingnuts to four consecutive winning seasons, as well as three playoff berths. Hooper's .572 winning percentage is the highest among American Association managers over the last five years. His 238 wins also rank first during that same stretch. During his 10-year playing career, Hooper was a member of a team that made the playoffs in eight different seasons. 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 Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay) with 13 strikeouts in 11.2 IP. RHP James Hoyt (2012) has a 4.75 ERA for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta) with 69 strikeouts and just 35 hits allowed in 47.1 IP. RHP Andrew Aizenstadt (2012) is currently in extended spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies' organization. LHP and Wingnuts' co-owner Nate Robertson (2012) has a 2.70 ERA in 26.2 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas). Outfielder Brent Clevlen (2011) hit .223 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 38 games for the Double-A Mobile Bay Bears (Arizona) before a mid-season promotion to Triple-A Reno.



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