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Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - June 3rd, 2013

June 3, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


CANARIES ALVAGE FINALE FROM WINGNUTS: The Wichita Wingnuts lost 11-6 to the Sioux Falls Canaries in the finale of their road series on Sunday. Wichita jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but Sioux Falls hit five home runs en route to the win. Trailing 8-2 in the top of the sixth, Wichita rallied for four runs to pull within two. Ryan Khoury hit a three-run double down the left field line with two outs to cut the lead to 8-6. The Canaries responded with a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom half. Chris Smith took the loss for Wichita, allowing eight runs, four earned, in 5.0 IP. Daniel Bennett threw 2.0 shutout relief innings. Colt Loehrs had two doubles, while CJ Ziegler and Jake Kahaulelio extended their hitting streaks to eight games.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE DIABLOS: The Wingnuts are 25-15 all-time against the El Paso Diablos, including a 17-8 mark at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The Diablos are in their ninth year as an independent franchise. The Diablos began play in the Central League in 2005 before joining the American Association the following year. The Diablos were a Double-A Texas League affiliate from 1974-2004 before becoming the St. Louis Cardinals' Texas League affiliate in Springfield, MO in 2005. El Paso is managed by Tim Johnson who took over for the Diablos on June 8th of last season. Johnson took the Diablos from 15.5 games out of first place to within 1.5 games with a 37-16 stretch from June 24th through August 22nd . El Paso ultimately finished 47-53, and Johnson was named the American Association's Manager of the Year. Johnson managed the Lincoln Saltdogs for six season, including three consecutive playoff berths from 2005-07. Johnson managed the Toronto Blue Jays to an 88-74 mark in 1998. El Paso has played its home games at Cohen Stadium since 1990. El Paso's crowd of 13,406 on July 4th, 2011 stands as an American Association single-game record. El Paso last reached the playoffs in 2007 where they won the South Division's first half title.

SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts are 10-6 and in a first place tie in the Central Division with the Gary SouthShore RailCats. The Wingnuts took two of three at Sioux Falls over the weekend. The Diablos are 5-10 and trail the Laredo Lemurs by 6.5 games in the South Division. El Paso just lost two of three at home to Gary SouthShore. The Wingnuts are second in the American Association in hitting (.291), second in pitching (3.20), and tied for eighth in fielding (.973). The Diablos are tied for third in batting (.284), 12th in pitching (5.95), and 13th in defense (.942).

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts open their series vs. El Paso with Ryan Hinson who is 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA in three starts. Hinson took a no- decision last Wednesday vs. Amarillo, allowing one earned run on four hits in 4.0 IP. Hinson's outing was cut short due to inclement weather that forced a two-hour and two-minute rain delay heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. Hinson is 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts at home this season.

Hinson ranks second all-time in Wingnuts' history with 21 wins, trailing Derek Blacksher (2009, 2011-12) who has 26. Hinson is 21-14 with a 4.03 ERA in a Wingnuts' uniform over the last three seasons in 44 starts and three relief appearances. Hinson also ranks third in franchise history with 197 strikeouts, trailing Blacksher's 218 for first place. During his three years in Wichita, Hinson has pitched at least 6.0 innings in 39 of 44 starts, and at least 5.0 innings in 43 of them. Hinson has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 27 starts and has walked three or fewer batters in 37 starts during that same stretch. Including the postseason, Hinson is 13-6 with a 3.41 ERA (57 ER, 150.1 IP) all-time at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in 23 starts and two relief appearances. Hinson is 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA (10 ER, 35.2 IP) all-time against the El Paso Diablos in five starts and one relief outing.

Hinson was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 10th round out of Clemson University in 2009. Hinson is 22-17 with a 4.61 ERA in five professional seasons over 82 games, 46 of them starts.

The Diablos open the series with right-hander Carlos Monasterios, who is 0-0 with an 11.57 ERA in one start and one relief appearance. Monasterios allowed two earned runs on three hits in 0.2 relief innings last Tuesday at Lincoln. His last start was on May 25th at St. Paul in which he allowed four earned runs on five hits in 4.0 IP in a no-decision.

Monasterios spent the 2010 season in the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he was a teammate of Wingnuts' right-hander Jon Link. Monasterios made 13 starts and 21 relief outings that year, posting a 4.38 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 88.1 IP. Monasterios signed with the New York Yankees as an international free agent in 2005. Monasterios last pitched in 2011 for the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque. Monasterios is 22- 29 with two saves and a 4.64 ERA in seven minor league seasons over 96 games, 59 of them starts. Monasterios has averaged just 2.9 walks per nine innings in 400.0 minor league frames.

MCDONALD NAMED BATTER OF THE WEEK: Wingnuts' center fielder Jared McDonald has been named the American Association's Batter of the Week for May 27th -June 2nd . McDonald hit .591 in six games with five doubles, seven runs scored, and six RBI, while helping the Wingnuts go 5-1.

PITCHING STRONG: The Wingnuts rank second in the American Association with a 3.20 ERA. The Wingnuts ranked first in ERA in 2009 and 2010 while finishing third in 2011.

NIEVES NOTCHES 500: Wingnuts' third baseman Abel Nieves had three hits in a win vs. Amarillo on Monday, May 27th . Nieves' first-inning double was the 500th base hit of his professional career. Nieves reached the Triple-A level three times with the Los Angeles Angels' organization.

IMMINENT MILESTONE FOR CAPRA : Wingnuts' left-hander Anthony Capra has 497 career strikeouts, and needs only three more to reach 500. The former Shocker fanned 170 between two levels of the Oakland Athletics' chain in 2009 and was named their Organizational Pitcher of the Year.

ZIEGLER APPROACHING RECORD: Wingnuts' first baseman CJ Ziegler has six home runs this season. Ziegler also has 24 home runs in a Wingnuts' uniform over the last two years, which ranks tied for second in franchise history. Ziegler is just two home runs shy from tying Ryan Patterson's (2010-11) franchise mark of 26.

HINSON CLIMBING THE RANKS: Ryan Hinson won his 21st game in a Wingnuts' uniform on May 18th at Kansas City. Hinson ranks second all-time in team history in victories, and trails Derek Blacksher (2009, 2011-12) for first place (26 wins). Hinson's 197 strikeouts rank third all-time, and are 21 shy of tying Blacksher for first place.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Wingnuts are 156-96 (.619) 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.

HINSON PROTECTING THE HOME FRONT: Third-year Wingnuts' starter Ryan Hinson has excelled when pitching at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Including the postseason, Hinson is 13-6 with a 3.41 ERA (57 ER, 150.1 IP) over 23 starts and two relief appearances.

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.

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 4.43 ERA for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta) with 61 strikeouts and just 30 hits allowed in 42.2 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 2.38 ERA in 22.2 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas).

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