Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - June 19th, 2013

June 19, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


RAILCATS TAKE DOUBLE HEADER FROM WINGNUTS: The Wichita Wingnuts lost both games of a day-night double header to the Gary SouthShore RailCats on Tuesday by scores of 7-6 in the opener and 7-4 in the nightcap. In game one, Wichita scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning to erase an early 4-0 RailCats' lead. Brent Clevlen highlighted the frame with a three-run homer. After Gary SouthShore tied it in the fourth, CJ Ziegler homered in the fifth to make it 6-5 Wichita. The RailCats rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth inning to take the lead. Chris Smith allowed five earned runs on five hits in 6.0 IP while taking a no-decision for the Wingnuts.

In the nightcap, Wichita had leads of 3-2 and 4-3 before the RailCats tied it in the top of the eighth. Mike Massaro hit a two-run triple in the top of the 11th to help Gary come away with the win. It was the Wingnuts' first extra inning game of the season. Eight different Wingnuts had at least one hit in game two. Anthony Capra made a spot start and threw 4.0 shutout innings, striking out six and allowing just one hit. Josh Dew threw 2.0 shutout innings of relief. Abel Nieves collected a hit in each end and has hit safely in 11 games in a row. RailCats' reliever Clay Zavada earned the save in both ends of the double header. Both games were scheduled for nine innings.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE RAILCATS: The Wingnuts are 12-9 all-time against the Gary SouthShore RailCats, including a 6-3 mark at Lawrence- Dumont Stadium. Gary SouthShore joined the American Association in 2011 after spending the previous nine seasons in the Northern League. RailCats' manager Greg Tagert is in his ninth season. Tagert guided the RailCats to the playoffs in each of his first six years, and won Northern League Championships in 2005 and 2007. Tagert was named Northern League Manager of the Year in 2007 and 209. Tagert entered 2013 with an 844-685 (.552) career managerial record, which includes nine years of service in the Frontier League. Tagert has never had a losing season in any of his 17 years as a professional manager and is the Frontier League's all-time wins leader as a skipper. The Wingnuts and RailCats battled neck and neck for the 2011 Central Division title with the Wingnuts clinching the division by one game on the final day of the regular season. Wichita swept a key, three- game series from the RailCats at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in late-August of that year that vaulted them into first place for the remainder of the season. US Steel Yard opened in 2003 after the RailCats were forced to play their inaugural season exclusively on the road. Mike Massaro, the American Association's all-time leader in triples, returns for a fifth season with the RailCats.

SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts are 20-12 and lead the Lincoln Saltdogs by 2.0 games in the Central Division. The Wingnuts won three of four this weekend from the St. Paul Saints. The RailCats are 16-14 and trail the Wingnuts by 3.0 games in the Central Division. The RailCats just won two of three at Fargo-Moorhead. The Wingnuts are first in the league in hitting (.306), first in pitching (3.48), and second in fielding (.980). The RailCats are 12th in batting (.259), sixth in pitching (4.43), and 10th in defense (.969). Gary SouthShore took two of three from Wichita at US Steel Yard in late-May.

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts look for a split of the four-game series with left-hander Ryan Hinson who is 4-1 with a 2.50 ERA in six starts. Hinson ranks third in the American Association in ERA, tied for third in wins, and sixth in strikeouts (37). Hinson threw the first complete game of his professional career last Friday in the opener of a double header vs. St. Paul. Hinson allowed two earned runs on six hits over 7.0 IP, striking out eight and walking three. Hinson is 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA at home this season in four starts. Including the postseason, Hinson is 15-6 all-time at Lawrence- Dumont Stadium with a 3.32 ERA (61 ER, 165.1 IP) over 25 starts and two relief appearances. Hinson has allowed two or fewer earned runs in five of six starts this season, and has allowed three or fewer earned runs in all of them. Hinson has pitched at least 6.0 innings in four of six starts, and at least 5.0 innings in five of them. Hinson has walked two or fewer batters in five of six starts, and has walked three or fewer in all of them. Hinson has not faced the RailCats this season. Hinson is 0-2 with a 7.32 ERA (16 ER, 19.2 IP) all-time against the RailCats in three starts.

Hinson is in his third season with the Wingnuts and is 24-14 with a 3.91 ERA in 47 starts and three relief appearances since first signing with the team in 2011. The 24 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 214 strikeouts. Blacksher is first with 218. During his three seasons in Wichita, Hinson has pitched at least 6.0 innings in 42 of 47 starts, and at least 5.0 innings in 46 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 30 of 47 starts with the Wingnuts, and he has walked three or fewer batters in 40 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 25-17 with a 4.48 ERA in five professional seasons over 85 games, 49 of them starts.

The RailCats look for the series win with left-hander Ari Ronick who is 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA in six starts. Ronick is working on three days of rest. Ronick took a no-decision at Fargo-Moorhead on Saturday, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits in 5.1 IP. The RailCats lost the game 4-3. Ronick is 2-0 with a 1.90 ERA on the road this season in three starts. Ronick has allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of six starts and has not allowed more than four earned runs in any of them. Ronick has pitched at least 5.0 innings in six of six starts. Ronick has walked two or fewer batters in five of six starts, and has walked three or fewer in all of them. Ronick beat the Wingnuts on May 21st at US Steel Yard, allowing one earned run on four hits in 6.0 IP.

Ronick made two relief appearances for the Atlantic League's Camden Riversharks earlier this year, allowing two earned runs in 0.2 IP. Ronick spent all of 2012 with the San Francisco Giants' Double-A affiliate in Richmond, VA. Ronick was 1-2 with a 7.93 ERA in 35 games, 34 of them in relief, striking out 23 and walking 21. Ronick was drafted by the Giants in the 12th round in 2008 out of the University of Portland. Ronick is in his sixth year of professional baseball and is 18-14 with two saves and a lifetime 3.95 ERA.

LINK SIGNED BY TIGERS: Wingnuts' right-hander Jon Link has been purchased by the Detroit Tigers' organization. Link was 6-1 with a league-best 1.74 ERA for the Wingnuts in seven starts and threw the first complete game of his professional career on Monday, June 17th vs. Gary SouthShore. During a four-start stretch from June 1st -17th, Link pitched 24.0 consecutive scoreless innings. Link reached the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010 and is the 17th player all-time sold by the Wingnuts to a Major League organization. Link is expected to join the Tigers' Double-A affiliate in Erie, PA.

AMBERSON NAMED BATTER OF THE WEEK: Wingnuts' right fielder David Amberson has been named the American Association's Batter of the Week for June 10th -16th . Amberson was 14 for 24 (.583) in seven games, scoring seven runs and collecting seven RBI. Amberson is the second Wingnut to receive the honor this season. Jared McDonald was named Batter of the Week for May 27th -June 2nd .

MAJOR LEAGUE BAT RETURNS TO WINGNUTS: The Wichita Wingnuts signed outfielder Brent Clevlen on Monday, June 17th . Clevlen appeared in 54 games this season for the Arizona Diamondbacks' Triple-A (Reno) and Double-A (Mobile) affiliates, hitting .217 with six home runs and 21 RBI. Clevlen hit .260 for Mobile last year with 10 home runs and 39 RBI before earning a late-season promotion to Reno. Clevlen hit .377 for the Aces in 31 games and helped them win both the Pacific Coast League championship and the Triple-A level championship. Clevlen hit .310 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI in 46 games for the Wingnuts in 2011 before having his contract purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies' organization. Clevlen spent parts of four seasons in the Major Leagues with the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves. Clevlen played with Wingnuts' manager Kevin Hooper and co-owner Nate Robertson for the Tigers in 2006. Wichita placed right-handed pitcher Lincoln Holdzkom and outfielder Mike Mobbs on waivers.

WAHL ADDED TO BULLPEN: The Wingnuts acquired right-handed pitcher Kyle Wahl from the United League's Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings on Monday. Wahl earned six saves and did not allow a run in 8.2 IP. Wahl posted a 2.23 ERA for the Minnesota Twins' rookie Gulf Coast League affiliate in 2011 before missing most of last year with an injury.

WELCOME TO THE PROS: True rookie right-hander Josh Stone earned the win in his professional debut on Saturday, June 15th vs. St. Paul with 2.0 shutout relief innings. Stone became the 29th player in team history to make his professional debut with the Wingnuts.

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 27th home run 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.

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. It was the first time the Wingnuts hit back-to-back home runs since July 26th, 2011 when Josh Horn and Brent Clevlen did it vs. Fargo-Moorhead.

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 June 11th hitting .400 in 2013, but had gone 126 consecutive games without a grand slam.

'AMBO' ROLLING: Wingnuts' rookie right fielder David Amberson is 34 for 77 (.442) over his last 22 games with 18 runs scored and 15 RBI. Amberson had a 16-game hitting streak (26 for 55, .473) from May 31st -June 16th . Amberson slugged the first home run of his professional career on June 10th at Winnipeg.

ABEL HEATING UP: Wingnuts' third baseman Abel Nieves is 37 for 96 (.385) in his last 26 games with 20 runs scored and 16 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 3.48 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 .306 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 second in the American Association with a .980 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.

HINSON CLIMBING THE RANKS: Ryan Hinson won his 24th game in a Wingnuts' uniform on June 14th vs. St. Paul in the opener of a double header. Hinson ranks second all-time in team history in victories, and trails Derek Blacksher (2009, 2011-12) for first place (26 wins). Hinson's 214 strikeouts rank second all-time, and are four shy of tying Blacksher for first place.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Wingnuts are 164-99 (.624) 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 15-6 with a 3.32 ERA (61 ER, 165.1 IP) over 25 starts and two relief appearances. Junior Guerra-who is in his second overall season with the Wingnuts-is 9-2 with a 3.15 ERA (36 ER, 103.0 IP) all-time at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in 15 starts.

ALL HE DOES IS WIN: Wingnuts' fifth-year manager Kevin Hooper is 242-182 (.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 242 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 4.89 ERA for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta) with 72 strikeouts and just 39 hits allowed in 49.2 IP. LHP and Wingnuts' co-owner Nate Robertson (2012) has a 2.60 ERA in 27.2 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas).



American Association Stories from June 19, 2013


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