Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - June 4th, 2013

Published on June 4, 2013 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


HINSON, OFFENSE LEAD WINGNUTS IN SERIES OPENER: The Wichita Wingnuts beat the El Paso Diablos 9-2 in the opener of a four-game series on Monday night. Ryan Hinson earned the win, allowing two earned runs on just four hits over 8.0 IP. Hinson walked two and struck out three. Wichita erased an early 1-0 deficit with a five-run bottom of the fourth that included CJ Ziegler's seventh home run of the season and a two-run single from David Amberson. Amberson finished with three hits while Ziegler added a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh. Jake Kahaulelio hit a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to drive in the Wingnuts' final runs. Both Ziegler and Kahaulelio have hit safely in nine games in a row. Lincoln Holdzkom threw a perfect top of the ninth to close out the game.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE DIABLOS: The Wingnuts are 26-15 all-time against the El Paso Diablos, including an 18-8 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 seasons, 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 11-6 and 1.0 game in front of the Gary SouthShore RailCats in the Central Division. The Wingnuts took two of three at Sioux Falls over the weekend. The Diablos are 5-11 and trail the Laredo Lemurs by 7.5 games in the South Division. El Paso just lost two of three at home to Gary SouthShore. The Wingnuts are tied for first in the American Association in hitting (.294), second in pitching (3.12), and tied for fifth in fielding (.975). The Diablos are sixth in batting (.277), 12th in pitching (6.13), and 13th in defense (.942).

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: Left-hander Anthony Capra makes his first start of the season for the Wingnuts. Capra is 0-0 with a 2.00 ERA in five relief outings and last pitched on May 29th vs. Amarillo, allowing three runs, one earned, in 1.2 IP. Capra made 11 starts for the Wingnuts last season, going 3-2 with a 4.99 ERA. Capra was 1-0 with a 3.74 ERA at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium last year in four starts. Capra made three starts head-to-head against the Diablos last season, going 1-0 with a 4.59 ERA.

Capra is 21-35 with a 4.21 ERA in six professional seasons over 112 outings, 98 of them starts. Capra has averaged 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings during his career. Capra was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 4th round in 2008 out of Wichita State University, and reached Triple-A Sacramento in 2011. Capra was named the Athletics' Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2009 after he struck out 170 batters in 152.0 IP with a 3.20 ERA between two levels of Oakland's farm system. Capra is the 10th former Shocker to play for the Wingnuts. 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.

The Diablos go with left-hander Kevin Brahney who is 0-1 with a 7.27 ERA in one start and four relief outings. Brahney last pitched on May 28th at Lincoln, allowing two earned runs on three hits in 3.0 IP in a start. Brahney took a no-decision and the Diablos won 7-6. It was Brahney's only outing on the road so far this year. Brahney was 2-1 with an 8.47 ERA between two levels of the Boston Red Sox' system last season. Brahney struck out 36 and walked 12 in 34.0 IP. Brahney was drafted by the Red Sox in the 11th round in 2011 out of California State University, Chico.

WINGNUTS SIGN LOCAL PRODUCT: The Wingnuts signed outfielder Tim Rotola on Monday afternoon. Rotola is a Wichita native and last played in 2011 when he hit .355 for the Pecos League's White Sands Pupfish. Wichita released outfielder Derek Perren.

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 3.12 ERA. The Wingnuts ranked first in ERA in 2009 and 2010 while finishing third in 2011.

HOT BATS: The Wingnuts rank tied for first in the American Association in batting average at .294. The Wingnuts have finished first and second respectively in the league batting race over the last two seasons.

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 seven home runs this season. Ziegler also has 25 home runs in a Wingnuts' uniform over the last two years, which ranks second in franchise history. Ziegler is just one home run shy from tying Ryan Patterson's (2010- 11) franchise mark of 26.

HINSON CLIMBING THE RANKS: Ryan Hinson won his 22nd game in a Wingnuts' uniform on June 3rd vs. El Paso. Hinson ranks second all-time in team history in victories, and trails Derek Blacksher (2009, 2011-12) for first place (26 wins). Hinson's 200 strikeouts rank second all-time, and are 18 shy of tying Blacksher for first place.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Wingnuts are 157-96 (.621) 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 14-6 with a 3.35 ERA (59 ER, 158.1 IP) over 24 starts and two relief appearances.

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.

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 3.04 ERA in 23.2 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas).

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