Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - May 23rd, 2013

Published on May 23, 2013 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


SMITH LEADS WINGNUTS TO WINNING TRIP: The Wichita Wingnuts won the finale of their three-game series at Gary SouthShore 5-1 over the RailCats on Wednesday afternoon. Wichita scored four times in the top of the first in support of starting pitcher Chris Smith, including a three-run home run from CJ Ziegler-his fifth of the year in seven games. Jared McDonald tacked on a fifth run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth. Smith earned the win, allowing one earned run on four hits in 7.0 innings. Smith walked one, struck out five, and ran a streak of 16 batters retired in a row. The game featured a rain delay of nearly two hours in the bottom of the eighth. Lincoln Holdzkom and Josh Dew each tossed a scoreless inning of relief. Ziegler finished with three hits and a walk.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE JACKALS: The Wingnuts are 2-1 all-time against the New Jersey Jackals, having won the inaugural series between the clubs in May of 2012 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The Jackals have been members of the Can-Am League since 2005, and spent their first seven years of existence (1998-2004) in the Northern League-East. New Jersey won four Northern League titles in a seven-year span, capturing a championship in 1998, 2001, 2002, and 2004. Joe Calfapietra is in his 11th season as the Jackals' manager, and has guided them to a winning record in eight of his first 10. Current St. Paul Saints' manager George Tsamis managed New Jersey from 2001-02, winning a championship each year. Former Wingnuts' manager Kash Beauchamp skippered the Jackals during their first three seasons, winning a championship in 1998. The Jackals have finished with a losing record just three times in their first 15 seasons, and have reached the playoffs 11 times during that same stretch. The Jackals feature last seasons Can-Am League MVP in Nick Giarraputo, as well as veteran left-handed starter Isaac Pavlik who is in his ninth season with the club.

SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts are 4-3 and in a four-way tie for first place in the Central Division. Wichita finished 3-2 on their five-game road trip to Kansas City and Gary. The Jackals are in the final leg of a 10-game road trip across the American Association to begin the season in which they are 3- 4. The Jackals are in third place in the Can-Am League. The Wingnuts are sixth in the league in batting (.266), third in pitching (2.64), and first in defense (.992). The Jackals are first in the Can-Am League in hitting (.323), fourth in pitching (6.60), and third in fielding (.969).

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts open their series against New Jersey with Ryan Hinson who is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in one start. Hinson earned the win last Saturday at Kansas City, allowing three earned runs on six hits in 5.0 innings. Hinson kept the T-Bones off the scoreboard over his final four innings of work.

Hinson was 9-8 with a 4.85 ERA for the Wingnuts last season in 21 starts and three relief appearances. Hinson struck out 93 and walked only 39. Hinson was 6-4 with a 4.54 ERA at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in 2012 in 11 starts and two relief appearances. Including the postseason, Hinson is 13- 5 with a 3.58 ERA all-time at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in 21 starts and two relief outings over 138.1 IP (55 ER). Hinson allowed three or fewer earned runs in 11 of 21 starts last year, and allowed more than four earned runs in just six of them. Hinson worked at least 6.0 innings in 19 of 21 starts, and at least 5.0 innings in all of them. Hinson walked three or fewer batters in 16 of 21 starts, and had seven starts in which he did not issue a walk. Hinson beat the Jackals on May 23rd of last year at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, allowing one earned run on four hits with eight strikeouts in 6.0 IP. Wichita won the game 18-5.

Hinson is 22-16 in five professional seasons with a 4.73 ERA in 80 games, 44 of them starts. Hinson was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 10th round in 2009 out of Clemson University. Hinson ranks second all-time in Wingnuts' history with 21 wins, trailing only Derek Blacksher (26) for first place. During his two-plus seasons in Wichita, Hinson has pitched at least 6.0 innings in 38 of 42 starts, and at least 5.0 innings in all of them. He has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 26 starts during that same stretch, and has allowed more than four earned runs in just 11 of them.

The Jackals go with right-hander Craig Heyer who is 0-1 with a 21.00 ERA in one start. Heyer took the loss at St. Paul last Saturday, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits and five walks in 3.0 IP. Heyer split time at the Double- and Triple-A levels in the New York Yankees' organization last year, going a combined 3-5 with a 5.72 ERA in 26 games, 11 of them starts.

Heyer was drafted by the Yankees in the 22nd round in 2007 out of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Heyer was 10-9 for the Double-A Trenton Thunder in 2011, and has finished with an ERA of 3.52 or better in four of his first six professional seasons. Heyer is 37-23 in his career with two saves and a 3.89 ERA in 169 games, 56 as a starter. Heyer has averaged just 1.9 walks and 0.4 home runs per nine innings in his professional career.

INTERLEAGUE PLAY: The Wingnuts play their second ever interleague series this weekend against the Can-Am League's New Jersey Jackals. The American Association and Can-Am League are playing a total of 100 interleague contests for a second straight year due to each league having an odd number of teams. The Wingnuts went 2-1 in their lone matchup last season. In August, the Wingnuts will travel to the east coast for a 10-game trip against Can-Am League foes, including New Jersey, Newark, and Rockland. The American Association was a combined 63-37 (.630) against the Can- Am League in 2012, including a 37-13 (.740) mark in American Association ballparks.

ZIEGLER APPROACHING RECORD: Wingunts' first baseman CJ Ziegler has five home runs this season. Ziegler also has 23 home runs in a Wingnuts' uniform over the last two years, which ranks third in franchise history. Ziegler is just three 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 3.68 ERA for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta) with 51 strikeouts and just 22 hits allowed in 36.2 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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