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Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - May 21st, 2013

May 21, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


RAILCATS TAKE SERIES OPENER: The Wichita Wingnuts lost 5-1 to the Gary SouthShore RailCats on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at US Steel Yard. RailCats' starter Alain Quijano pitched 6.0 shutout innings to earn the win, and was supported by single runs in the first, third, and fourth. Wichita made a bid to comeback in the top of the eighth when John Rodriguez doubled home Ryan Khoury. The Wingnuts eventually put the tying runs on base before Gary SouthShore's Ian Durham escaped the jam. Adam Klein's two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth provided the final margin. Kristhiam Linares struck out five and allowed two earned runs in 5.0 innings. Linares took the loss in his Wingnuts' debut. Anthony Capra worked 1.2 perfect innings in relief of Linares. Khoury finished the game with three hits.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE RAILCATS: The Wingnuts are 10-6 all-time against the Gary SouthShore RailCats, including a 5-5 mark at US Steel Yard. Gary joined the American Association in 2011 after spending the previous nine seasons in the Northern League. RailCats' manager Greg Tagert is in his ninth season, and guided the team to the playoffs in each of his first six years. Tagert led the RailCats to a Northern League championship in 2005 and 2007, and was named Northern League Manager of the Year in 2007 and 2009. Entering 2013, Tagert is 844-685 (.552) in his managerial career, which also includes nine years of service in the Frontier League. Tagert has never had a losing season in any of his 17 seasons as a professional manager. The Wingnuts and RailCats battled neck and neck for the 2011 Central Division title, with the Wingnuts clinching the division by one game on the final day of the regular season. Wichita swept a key, three-game series from the RailCats in late-August of that year that vaulted them into first place for the remainder of the season. US Steel Yard opened in 2003 after the RailCats had to play their inaugural season exclusively on the road.

SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts and RailCats are tied with the Sioux City Explorers at 3-2 for first place in the Central Division. The Wingnuts rank fourth in the league in batting (.282), fourth in pitching (3.07), and second in defense (.988). The RailCats are 12th in hitting (.214), seventh in pitching (4.21), and eighth in fielding (.973). The Wingnuts were 6-3 head-to-head against the RailCats in 2012.

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts look to even the series with Jon Link, who is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one start. Link threw 7.0 shutout innings to earn the win on Opening Night last Thursday vs. Kansas City. Link split time with the Miami Marlins' and Baltimore Orioles' organizations last year, going 3-2 with 11 saves and a 2.78 ERA in 32 relief appearances at the Double- and Triple-A levels. Link struck out 28 and walked 13 in 35.2 innings. Link appeared in nine games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010, totaling 8.2 IP. Link was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 26th round in 2005 out of Bluefield College. Link was the first Bluefield alumnus to reach the Major Leagues. Link entered 2013 with a 25-21 record with 93 saves and a 3.82 ERA in his career, and has reached double digits in saves in five different professional seasons. Prior to this season, Link had made nine career starts, the last of which came on April 13th, 2011 as a member of the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes (Los Angeles Dodgers).

The RailCats go with left-hander Ari Ronick who took a loss vs. Lincoln last Friday, allowing four earned runs on three hits in 5.0 IP with three walks and three strikeouts. Ronick will be working on three days of rest. Ronick made two relief appearances for the Atlantic League's Camden Riversharks earlier this year, allowing two earned runs in 0.2 IP. Ronick spent all of 2012 with the San Francisco Giants' Double-A affiliate in Richmond, VA. Ronick was 1-2 with a 7.93 ERA in 35 games, 34 of them in relief, striking out 23 and walking 21. Ronick was drafted by the Giants in the 12th round in 2008 out of the University of Portland. Ronick is in his sixth year of professional baseball and is 15-13 with two saves and a lifetime 4.07 ERA.

ZIEGLER APPROACHING RECORD: Wingunts' first baseman CJ Ziegler has three home runs this season. His 21 home runs in a Wingnuts' uniform over the last two years rank tied for third in franchise history with Kelly Hunt (2009), and trail Ryan Patterson's (2010-11) 26 home runs for first place.

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 and 2011-12, 26) for first place. Hinson's 180 strikeouts rank third all-time.

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.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Wingnuts are 152-94 (.618) 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.

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 4.01 ERA for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta) with 46 strikeouts and just 21 hits allowed in 33.2 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 3.00 ERA in 18.0 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas).

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