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Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - May 22nd, 2013

May 22, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WINGNUTS CATCH TOUGH BREAK: The Wichita Wingnuts lost 2-1 to the Gary SouthShore RailCats at US Steel Yard on Tuesday afternoon. CJ Ziegler cracked his fourth homer of the year in the top of the fourth inning to give the Wingnuts a 1-0 lead, but Gary responded with two runs in the bottom half that involved a controversial play in left field. With runners on first and second and two outs, Drew Martinez hit a soft flyball to left field that Wingnuts' left fielder Colt Loehrs appeared to catch. However, the play was ruled a trap and allowed the game's decisive runs to cross the plate. Wichita starter Jon Link allowed two earned runs and struck out four in 6.0 IP while taking a tough loss. Anthony Capra and Nick Walters each threw 1.0 shutout relief inning. Jared McDonald and John Rodriguez each had two hits for the Wingnuts.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE RAILCATS: The Wingnuts are 10-7 all-time against the Gary SouthShore RailCats, including a 5-6 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 are 3-3 and in a three-way tie for second place in the Central Division. The RailCats are 4-2 in the Central, which is good for first place by 1.0 game over Wichita, Lincoln, and Sioux City. The Wingnuts rank seventh in the league in batting (.265), fourth in pitching (2.94), and first in defense (.990). The RailCats are 12th in hitting (.214), fifth in pitching (3.70), and eighth in fielding (.977). The Wingnuts were 6-3 head-to-head against the RailCats in 2012.

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts look to finish with a winning road trip with right-hander Chris Smith who took a no-decision in his first start of the season last Friday vs. Kansas City. Smith allowed three earned runs on four hits in 6.0 IP while striking out eight. 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 the win vs. Syracuse.

Smith entered this season 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 RailCats send right-hander Stephen Hiscock to the mound who will be working on three days of rest. Hiscock took a no-decision in his season debut last Saturday vs. Lincoln, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits in 5.0 IP. Lincoln won the game 4-3. Hiscock struck out seven and walked one.

Hiscock was 6-6 for the RailCats last year in 19 starts and six relief outings, and ranked fifth in the American Association with a 3.22 ERA. Hiscock was 2-0 head-to-head against the Wingnuts last year with a 4.73 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance. Hiscock allowed one earned run on three hits in 6.0 IP to earn the win at US Steel Yard on June 13th and later picked up a win at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on August 25th, allowing three earned runs in 5.1 IP. In both starts, Hiscock matched up against Wingnuts' left-hander Ryan Hinson. Hiscock allowed three or fewer earned runs in 16 of 19 starts, and allowed more than four earned runs in a start just once. Hiscock worked 6.0 or more innings in 12 of 19 starts. Hiscock walked two or fewer batters in 13 of 19 starts, and walked more than three batters in just three of them.

Hiscock is in his fourth season of professional baseball with a career 10-11 record with four saves and a 3.74 ERA in 85 games, 20 of them starts. Hiscock was signed by the Tampa Bay Rays as a non-drafted free agent in 2010 after playing at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL. Hiscock has averaged 3.0 walks per nine innings in 233.1 career frames.

ZIEGLER APPROACHING RECORD: Wingunts' first baseman CJ Ziegler has four home runs this season. Ziegler also has 22 home runs in a Wingnuts' uniform over the last two years, which ranks third in franchise history. Ziegler is just four 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 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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