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Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - June 28th, 2013

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


WINGNUTS SWEEP LEMURS: The Wichita Wingnuts completed a three-game sweep of the Laredo Lemurs on Wednesday with a 5-3 win. Colt Loehrs hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie. Josh Dew pitched a scoreless top of the ninth to earn his seventh save. Brent Clevlen helped Wichita build an early 3-0 lead with a two-run home run in the second and a sacrifice fly in the third. Junior Guerra worked 7.0 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out six. Abel Nieves extended his hitting streak to 19 consecutive games, one shy of the Wingnuts' franchise record held by Josh Horn.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE EXPLORERS: The Wingnuts are 44-31 all-time against the Sioux City Explorers, including a 22-19 mark Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The Explorers and the Lincoln Saltdogs are the only two teams to have remained in the same division as the Wingnuts since Wichita began play in 2008. The Explorers were 45-55 in 2012. Stan Cliburn returns for his third year as Explorers' manager, and helped them to a 51-49 record during his inaugural season in 2011. Cliburn played for the California Angels in 1980 and has managed as high as the Triple-A level. Cliburn guided the Rochester Red Wings (AAA, Minnesota Twins) to the 2006 International League championship. The Explorers last made the playoffs in 2008 when they won the North Division's second half. Sioux City is an original independent franchise that began play in the Northern League in 1993. The Explorers are in their 21st season.

SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts are 26-14 and lead the Gary SouthShore RailCats by 1.5 games in the Central Division. The Wingnuts just swept a three-game series from the Laredo Lemurs at home. The Explorers are 17-22 and trail the Wingnuts by 8.5 games in the Central. Sioux City lost three of four to the Winnipeg Goldeyes at home. The Wingnuts are second in the American Association in hitting (.301), first in pitching (3.43), and tied for first in fielding (.981). The Explorers are 12th in batting (.263), eighth in pitching (4.67), and tied for first in defense (.981). Wichita and Sioux City split a four- game series at Lewis and Clark Park last weekend.

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts go with left-hander Anthony Capra who is 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA in four starts and five relief appearances. Capra took a no-decision at Sioux City last Saturday, allowing four earned runs on three hits in 5.0+ innings. Capra is 1-0 with a 1.53 ERA at home this season in three starts and two relief outings. Since joining the Wingnuts last July, Capra is 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in seven starts and two relief appearance. Capra has allowed one or fewer earned runs in three of four starts, and has allowed three or fewer hits in all of them. Tonight is Capra's second career appearance against the Explorers.

Capra is 22-35 in six professional seasons with a 4.16 ERA in 116 games, 102 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 8.7 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 Explorers go with right-hander Preston Olson who is 1-1 with a 5.30 ERA in three starts and two relief appearances. Olson last pitched on June 11th vs. Kansas City, allowing one earned run in 1.2 relief innings. Olson is 1-1 as a starting pitcher with a 4.50 ERA and last made a start on June 4th at Kansas City in which he allowed one earned run over 5.0 IP in a no-decision. Tonight is Olson's first career appearance against the Wingnuts.

Olson is a true rookie out of Utah Valley State University where he was 8-0 with a 3.15 ERA as a senior in 2012. During his final year with the Wolverines, Olson struck out 71 in 71.1 IP. Olson was 3-0 with a 5.26 ERA as a junior in 2011 and also spent two years at the College of Southern Idaho.

NIEVES ON FIRE: Wingnuts' third baseman Abel Nieves is riding a 19-game hitting streak in which he is 38 for 76 (.500). Nieves is also 55 for 128 (.430) in his last 34 games with 29 runs scored and 20 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. Nieves enters Friday leading the American Association in batting average (.387). Josh Horn (2009-11) holds the Wingnuts' record for longest hitting streak at 20, which ran from August 29th, 2009 through June 5th, 2010.

KHOURY'S IRONMAN STREAK ENDS: Wingnuts' shortstop Ryan Khoury was out of the lineup on Wednesday for the first time since signing with the team last year. Including the postseason, Khoury started 145 consecutive games both at shortstop and in the leadoff spot, and missed just five total innings in the field during that stretch. Khoury has reached base in 36 of 39 games this season with a hit, walk, or hit by pitch. Last year, Khoury reached base in 87 of 100 games. Khoury is 12th in the American Association with 31 RBI. The last time a Wingnuts' player other than Khoury started at either shortstop or in the leadoff spot was Jimmy Mojica on September 4th, 2011 in Game Four of the Division Series vs. Grand Prairie.

GRAHAM RETURNS: The Wingnuts signed right-handed pitcher Ben Graham on Tuesday. Graham made his professional debut with the Wingnuts in 2010 after finishing at Emporia State University. Graham made two starts for Wichita that season before having his contract purchased by the Washington Nationals. Graham returned to Wichita last year before having his season cut short due to injury. Graham has recovered from Tommy John Surgery. Graham is one of eight former ESU Hornets to play for the Wingnuts. Wichita released right-handed pitcher Kyle Wahl.

HINSON TIES BLACKSHER: Ryan Hinson earned his 26th win in a Wingnuts' uniform on June 24th vs. Laredo, tying him with Derek Blacksher for the most in franchise history. Hinson surpassed Blacksher for the Wingnuts' career strikeouts record when he fanned five in a win vs. Gary SouthShore on June 19th .

BIG 'Z': Wichita Wingnuts' first baseman CJ Ziegler ranks first in the American Association in both home runs (15) and RBI (46). Ziegler tied a Wingnuts' single-game record with seven RBI on June 24th vs. Laredo.

TOUGH LOSSES: The Wingnuts have had a lead in the sixth inning or later in each of their previous seven losses. Of their 14 losses for the season, the Wingnuts have had a lead at some point in 11 of them. Wichita has lost 10 games by one run, one by two runs, and one by three runs in extra innings.

COMPLETE ME: The Wingnuts lead the American Association with four complete games. Wichita's team record for complete games in one season is seven, accomplished in both 2009 and 2010.

'AMBO' ROLLING: Wingnuts' true rookie right fielder David Amberson is 39 for 109 (.358) over his last 30 games with 22 runs scored and 20 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.

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.

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

PITCHING STRONG: The Wingnuts rank first in the American Association with a 3.43 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 .301 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 tied for first in the American Association with a .981 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 168-99 (.629) 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 17-6 with a 3.11 ERA (62 ER, 179.1 IP) over 27 starts and two relief appearances. Junior Guerra-who is in his second overall season with the Wingnuts-is 9-2 with a 3.03 ERA (37 ER, 110.0 IP) all-time at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in 16 starts.

ALL HE DOES IS WIN: Wingnuts' fifth-year manager Kevin Hooper is 248-184 (.574) since taking over in 2009. Hooper has guided the Wingnuts to four consecutive winning seasons, as well as three playoff berths. Hooper's .574 winning percentage is the highest among American Association managers over the last five years. His 248 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) had 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 and was recently promoted to Double-A Mississippi. LHP and Wingnuts' co-owner Nate Robertson (2012) has a 3.31 ERA in 32.2 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas). RHP Jon Link was purchased by the Detroit Tigers on June 19th, and is 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA in two starts for Double-A Erie.

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