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Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - June 8th, 2013

June 8, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WINGNUTS FALL ONE RUN SHY IN WILD GAME: The Wingnuts lost 8-7 to the St. Paul Saints in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night. Wichita almost came back from an 8-2 deficit in the later innings, pulling to within one run and placing the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the top of the ninth. Colt Loehrs singled to left with two outs in the ninth inning before Tim Rotola was narrowly thrown out at the plate for the game's final out. Loehrs had three hits and an RBI in the game. Wichita rallied for five runs in the top of the eighth inning to cut St. Paul's lead to 8-7. The Wingnuts utilized two hits, four walks, a hit batter, and an error in the inning while sending 11 men to the plate. Jake Kahaulelio celebrated his 28th birthday with a three-hit night, including a first inning solo home run. Chris Smith took the loss for Wichita, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits in 6.1 IP. Lincoln Holdzkom worked a perfect inning of relief for Wichita.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE SAINTS: The Wingnuts are 37-32 all-time against the St. Paul Saints, including a 15-22 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 14-7 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 12-9 and tied for first place with the Winnipeg Goldeyes 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 second in the American Association in hitting (.292), first in pitching (3.17), and tied for fourth in defense (.977). The Saints are third in the league in batting (.288), seventh in pitching (4.61), and 11th in fielding (.968).

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts go with left-hander Ryan Hinson who is 2-1 with a 2.52 ERA in four starts. Hinson earned the win on Monday vs. El Paso, allowing two earned runs on four hits in 8.0 IP. Hinson is 1-0 in his only road start this season, allowing three earned runs in 5.0 IP at Kansas City on May 18th . Hinson has allowed three or fewer earned runs in four of four starts this season. Hinson has walked two or fewer batters in four of four starts. On May 23rd vs. New Jersey, Hinson set a Wingnuts' single-game record with 13 strikeouts in a 1-0 loss. Hinson is 1-0 in his career against the Saints with a 2.35 ERA in one start and one relief appearance. His lone outing at Midway Stadium came on the final day of the 2012 regular season in which he threw 1.0 shutout relief inning on September 3rd .

Hinson is in his third season with the Wingnuts and is 22-14 with a 3.98 ERA in 45 starts and three relief appearances since first signing with the team in 2011. The 22 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 200 strikeouts. Blacksher is first with 218.

During his three seasons in Wichita, Hinson has pitched at least 6.0 innings in 40 of 45 starts, and at least 5.0 innings in 44 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 28 of 45 starts with the Wingnuts, and he has walked three or fewer batters in 38 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 23-17 with a 4.56 ERA in five professional seasons over 83 games, 47 of them starts.

The Saints go with former Major League right-hander Mark Hamburger who is 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA in four starts. Hamburger took a no-decision on Monday at Rockland, allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits in 6.1IP. The Saints won the game 8-5. Hamburger is 0-0 at home this season with a 2.51 ERA in two starts. Hamburger has allowed four or fewer earned runs in three of his four starts. He has walked two or fewer batters in three of four starts.

Hamburger split time with three Triple-A Pacific Coast League affiliates last year, seeing time with Round Rock (Texas), Tucson (San Diego), and Oklahoma City (Houston). He was a combined 1-5 with two saves and a 6.20 ERA in 43 games, 39 of them in relief. Hamburger reached the Major Leagues in 2011 with the Texas Rangers, posting a 4.50 ERA in 8.0 innings over five relief appearances. During his time in the Majors, Hamburger twice struck out Red Sox' first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. On September 26th, 2011, Hamburger earned a win at Los Angeles (AL), allowing one earned run in 3.2 innings of long relief. Hamburger is in his seventh season of professional baseball and is 18-24 with 44 saves and a 4.11 ERA during his time in the minor leagues in which he has averaged 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Hamburger originally signed with the Minnesota Twins' organization as a non-drafted free agent in 2007.

'AMBO' ROLLING: Wingnuts' rookie right fielder David Amberson has hit safely in eight games in a row (11 for 27, .407). Amberson is also 15 for 34 (.441) over his last 11 games with seven runs scored and eight RBI.

ABEL HEATING UP: Wingnuts' third baseman Abel Nieves is 17 for 52 (.327) in his last 15 games with 11 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.

PITCHING STRONG: The Wingnuts rank first in the American Association with a 3.17 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 .292 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 2.81 ERA in 25.2 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas).



American Association Stories from June 8, 2013


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