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Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - June 7th, 2013

June 7, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WINGNUTS BLANK DIABLOS TO EARN SWEEP: The Wichita Wingnuts earned their second shutout of the season, beating the El Paso Diablos 1-0 on Thursday night to finish off a four-game sweep. Jon Link earned his fourth win with 6.2 scoreless innings. Nick Walters, Lincoln Holdzkom, and Josh Dew worked the final 2.1 IP to close out the win. Dew earned his fourth save of the year. Ryan Khoury had two hits and provided the only run with a two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. Khoury drove in Jared McDonald who had just hit a ground rule double. It was the Wingnuts' fourth four- game sweep in team history. The previous three were at Sioux City in 2009 (June 22nd -25th ), vs. Sioux Falls in 2009 (July 13th -16th ), and vs. Grand Prairie in 2010 (July 9th -12th ). Wingnuts' pitching allowed a combined 20 hits in the four-game series. The Wingnuts have won nine of their last 10 games.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE SAINTS: The Wingnuts are 37-31 all-time against the St. Paul Saints, including a 15-21 mark at Midway 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 14-6 and lead the Gary SouthShore RailCats by 2.5 games in the Central Division. Wichita just swept a four- game series from the El Paso Diablos. St. Paul is 11-9 and trails the Winnipeg Goldeyes by 1.0 game in the North Division. The Saints just completed a 10-game road trip at three Can-Am League cities in which they were 4-6. The Saints opened the year 7-3. The Wingnuts are first in the American Association in hitting (.294), first in pitching (2.90), and tied for fourth in defense (.977). The Saints are fourth in batting (.284), seventh in pitching (4.58), and tied for 10th in fielding (.968).

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts open their six-game road trip with Chris Smith who is 2-1 with a 4.01 ERA in four starts. Smith took a loss last Sunday at Sioux Falls, allowing eight runs, four earned, on eight hits in 5.0 IP. Smith has pitched at least 6.0 innings in three of four starts, and has pitched at least 5.0 innings in all of them. Smith has walked three or fewer batters in four of four starts. Smith has allowed three or fewer earned runs in three of four starts. Smith is 1-1 on the road this season with a 3.75 ERA in two starts.

Prior to this season, Smith last pitched in 2011 for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle). Smith made 50 Major League relief appearances with the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers from 2008-2010. Prior to this season, his last start came on April 25th, 2009 with Boston's Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket in which he allowed one hit over 6.0 shutout innings to earn a win vs. Syracuse.

Smith entered 2013 with a 42-39 career record with 61 saves and a 4.02 ERA in 10 professional seasons. During that span, Smith averaged 7.5 strikeouts against just 2.5 walks per nine innings in 771.0 career innings. Smith was drafted by the Red Sox in the 4th round in 2002 out of the University of California, Riverside. In addition to his time in the Majors, Smith has six years of experience at the Triple-A level, and has spent parts of four others in Double-A. In 2010, Smith saves 26 games for the Nashville Sounds, which led the Pacific Coast League, and ranked second overall at the Triple-A level.

The Saints go with right-hander Wes Roemer who is 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA in four starts. Roemer took a loss on Sunday at Quebec, allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits in 7.0 IP. Roemer is 1-0 at home this season in one start, beating the New Jersey Jackals at Midway Stadium on May 17th . Roemer has allowed three or fewer earned runs in three of four starts.

Roemer opened 2012 with the Saints and was 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA in four starts before having his contract purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization. Roemer was assigned to Double-A Chattanooga and was 4-2 with one save and a 2.73 ERA in 23 relief appearances.

Roemer is in his seventh season of professional baseball and is 40-41 in his career with a 4.24 ERA in 145 games, 111 of them starts. Roemer has averaged just 2.6 walks per nine innings in his professional career. Roemer was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1st round (50th overall) out of Cal State Fullerton in 2007 and twice reached the Triple-A level. Roemer was the Big West's Pitcher of the Year and a First-Team All-American as a sophomore in 2006.

ABEL HEATING UP: Wingnuts' third baseman Abel Nieves is 17 for 47 (.362) in his last 14 games with 10 runs scored and 10 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.

'AMBO' ROLLING: Wingnuts' right fielder David Amberson has hit safely in seven games in a row (10 for 24, .417). Amberson is also 14 for 31 (.452) over his last 10 games with seven runs scored and seven RBI.

PITCHING STRONG: The Wingnuts rank first in the American Association with a 2.90 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 .294 team batting average. Over the last two seasons, the Wingnuts have finished first and second respectively in the league batting race.

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.

WINGNUTS SIGN LOCAL PRODUCT: The Wingnuts signed outfielder Tim Rotola on Monday afternoon. Rotola is a Wichita native and hit .361 for the Montezuma Federals in the Freedom Pro League last season. Rotola hit .355 for the Pecos League's White Sands Pupfish in 2011. Wichita released outfielder Derek Perren.

500 FOR CAPRA: Wingnuts' left-hander Anthony Capra struck out five batters on Tuesday, June 4th vs. El Paso. Capra's third strikeout during the start was the 500th of his professional career. The former Shocker fanned 170 between two levels of the Oakland Athletics' farm system in 2009 en route to being 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 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.

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.

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 4.40 ERA for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta) with 65 strikeouts and just 31 hits allowed in 45.0 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 2.88 ERA in 25.0 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas).

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