Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - June 14th, 2013

Published on June 14, 2013 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


GOLDEYES EDGE WINGNUTS IN RUBBER GAME: The Wichita Wingnuts lost 4-3 to the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the rubber game of their three-game series on Wednesday at Shaw Park. Wichita jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on a first-inning three-run homer from Cole Armstrong. Winnipeg chipped away with single runs in the first, third, and sixth innings, and won the game on Amos Ramon's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth. Chris Smith tied a season-high with eight strikeouts and allowed two earned runs on five hits in 6.0 IP in a no-decision. Daniel Bennett and Nick Walters combined for 2.0 shutout relief innings with four strikeouts. David Amberson extended his hitting streak to 12 games in a row.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE SAINTS: The Wingnuts are 38-32 all-time against the St. Paul Saints, including a 22-10 mark at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. St. Paul is an original independent franchise that started play in the Northern League in 1993. The Saints are currently in their 21st season. The Saints are managed by George Tsamis who is in his 10th season. Tsamis guided the Saints to their fourth championship, winning the Northern League in 2004. Tsamis previously won a pair of championships with the Can-Am League's New Jersey Jackals. The Saints reached the 2011 American Association Championship Series where they lost in five games to the Grand Prairie AirHogs. St. Paul reached the Championship Series in 2006 and 2007, losing both times in five games to the Fort Worth Cats. Eight-year Major League veteran-and former Saints' pitcher-Kerry Ligtenberg returns for his second year as St. Paul's pitching coach.

SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts are 16-9 and lead the Lincoln Saltdogs by 2.0 games in the Central Division. Wichita lost two of three to the Winnipeg Goldeyes on the road. The Saints are 14-11, and lead the Goldeyes by 0.5 a game in the North Division. The Saints just won two of three from the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Midway Stadium in St. Paul. The Wingnuts are second in the league in hitting (.291), first in pitching (3.16), and tied for second in fielding (.979). The Saints are first in the American Association in batting (.292), seventh in pitching (4.46), and 10th in defense (.969).

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: In the opener of Friday's double header, the Wingnuts go with left-hander Ryan Hinson who is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in five starts. Hinson ranks sixth in the American Association in ERA. Hinson earned a win against the Saints at Midway Stadium last Saturday, allowing two earned runs on four hits in 7.2 IP. Hinson is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in three starts at home this season. Including the postseason, Hinson is 14-6 all-time at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium with a 3.35 ERA (59 ER, 158.1 IP) over 24 starts and two relief appearances. Hinson has allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of five starts this year, and has allowed three or fewer earned runs in all of them. Hinson has walked two or fewer hitters in five of five starts. On May 23rd vs. New Jersey, Hinson set a Wingnuts' single-game record with 13 strikeouts in a 1-0 loss. Hinson is 2-0 in his career against the Saints with a 2.35 ERA (4 ER, 15.1 IP) in two starts and one relief appearance.

Hinson is in his third season with the Wingnuts and is 23-14 with a 3.94 ERA in 46 starts and three relief appearances since first signing with the team in 2011. The 23 wins rank second all-time in franchise history, and trail only Derek Blacksher (2009, 2011-12) for first place (26). Hinson also ranks second in team history with 206 strikeouts. Blacksher is first with 218. During his three seasons in Wichita, Hinson has pitched at least 6.0 innings in 41 of 46 starts, and at least 5.0 innings in 45 of them. The lone start in which Hinson did not pitch 5.0 innings came on May 29th of this year vs. Amarillo. Hinson pitched 4.0 innings and did not return following a two-hour and two-minute rain delay. Hinson has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 29 of 46 starts with the Wingnuts, and he has walked three or fewer batters in 39 starts during that same stretch.

Hinson was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 10th round out of Clemson University in 2009. Hinson is 24-17 with a 4.51 ERA in five professional seasons over 84 games, 48 of them starts.

The Saints go with right-hander George Jensen who is 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA in one start and five relief outings. Jensen last pitched on June 5th at Rockland, allowing four earned runs on six hits in 5.0 innings of long relief. The Saints lost the game 11-8 to the Boulders. Jensen made his lone start on June 1st at Quebec, allowing three earned runs in 5.0 IP while taking the loss. Jensen is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA on the road this season in one start and three relief outings. Tonight is Jensen's first career appearance against the Wingnuts.

Jensen is in his fourth season of professional baseball and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 46th round in 2010 out of Des Moines Area Community College. Jensen reached High-A Charlotte in the Florida State League last year and posted a 5.83 ERA in 34 games, 32 of them in relief. Jensen was 13-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 26 starts for the Low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods in 2011. Jensen is 17-14 in his career with a 4.94 ERA in 78 games, 30 of them starts. Jensen has averaged 6.2 strikeouts and 3.0 walks per nine innings in 258.2 lifetime frames.

In the nightcap, the Wingnuts go with left-hander Anthony Capra who is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in one start and five relief appearances. Capra last worked on June 4th vs. El Paso, allowing one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts over 6.0 innings in his first start of the year. Tonight will be Capra's 100th career start. Capra is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA at home this season in one start and two relief appearances. Since signing with the Wingnuts last July, Capra is 2-0 with a 3.34 ERA (12 ER, 32.1 IP) at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in five starts and one relief appearance. Capra is 1-0 in one career start against the Saints, allowing four earned runs in 5.0 IP on the final day of the 2012 regular season at Midway Stadium.

Capra is 22-35 in six professional seasons with a 4.18 ERA in 113 games, 99 of them starts. Capra was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 4th round in 2008 out of Wichita State University. Capra reached Triple-A Sacramento in 2011, and has averaged 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings during his career. Capra was Oakland's Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2009 after striking out 170 batters in 152.0 IP with a 3.20 ERA between two levels of their farm system. Capra was an All-American and a Missouri Valley Conference All-Star during his junior season in 2008, going 9-1 with a 3.54 ERA and helping Wichita State reach the NCAA Super Regionals. Capra is the 10th former Shocker to play for the Wingnuts.

The Saints counter with right-hander Mark Hamburger who is 0-2 with a 6.44 ERA in five starts. Hamburger took a loss vs. Wichita last Saturday, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits in 5.1 IP. Hamburger is 0-1 with a 9.31 ERA on the road this season in two starts. Hamburger has allowed four or fewer earned runs in three of five starts. Hamburger has pitched at least 5.0 innings in four of five starts.

Hamburger split time with three Triple-A Pacific Coast League affiliates last year, seeing action with Round Rock (Texas), Tucson (San Diego), and Oklahoma City (Houston). He was a combined 1-5 with two saves and a 6.20 ERA in 43 games, 39 of them in relief. Hamburger reached the Major Leagues in 2011 with the Texas Rangers, posting a 4.50 ERA in 8.0 innings over five relief appearances. Hamburger twice struck out then-Boston Red Sox' slugger Adrian Gonzalez during his time in the Majors. On September 26th, 2011, Hamburger earned a win at Los Angeles (AL), allowing one earned run in 3.2 innings of long relief. Hamburger is in his seventh season of professional baseball and is 18-25 with 44 saves and a 4.22 ERA in 220 minor league appearances in which he has averaged 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Hamburger originally signed with the Minnesota Twins' organization as a non-drafted free agent in 2007.

FIRST INNING FRENZY: During their last road trip, the Wingnuts scored in the top of the first inning in all five games.

LOTS OF BASEBALL: Beginning with Friday's double header vs. St. Paul, the Wingnuts have eight games scheduled over the next six days. Wichita and Gary SouthShore will play a day/night double header on Tuesday. Both games are scheduled for nine innings.

DOUBLE HEADER/RAINOUT NOTES: Tonight's double header is the Wingnuts' first of the season and a result of the June 9th rainout at Midway Stadium. Wichita is 5-3-6 all-time in twinbills. Prior to June 9th, Wichita's last rainout came on August 23rd, 2012 at El Paso, which marked their first full postponement of a game (home or away) since August 8th, 2010. Including the postseason, the Wingnuts had gone 212 consecutive games without a cancelation.

GRAND SLAM TIME: On Tuesday, June 11th at Winnipeg, 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 Tuesday night hitting .400 in 2013, but had gone 126 consecutive games without a grand slam.

STRONGEST LINK: With 8.0 shutout innings on Tuesday, June 11th at Winnipeg, 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, accomplished 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.

'AMBO' ROLLING: Wingnuts' rookie right fielder David Amberson has hit safely in 12 games in a row (17 for 42, .405). Amberson is also 21 for 51 (.412) over his last 15 games with 10 runs scored and 10 RBI. Amberson slugged the first home run of his professional career on June 10th at Winnipeg.

ABEL HEATING UP: Wingnuts' third baseman Abel Nieves is 22 for 66 (.333) in his last 19 games with 15 runs scored and 15 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 second in the American Association with a .291 team batting average. Over the last two seasons, the Wingnuts have finished first and second respectively in the league batting race.

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.

ALL HE DOES IS WIN: Wingnuts' fifth-year manager Kevin Hooper is 238-179 (.571) since taking over in 2009. Hooper has guided the Wingnuts to four consecutive winning seasons, as well as three playoff berths. Hooper's .571 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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