Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - May 25th, 2013
May 25, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WINGNUTS BOUNCE BACK AGAINST NEW JERSEY: The Wichita Wingnuts evened their series against the New Jersey Jackals with a 10-5 win on Friday night. After falling behind early 1-0, Wichita rattled off seven unanswered runs, including a two-out, two-run home run from John Rodriguez in the bottom of the third, and a two-run double from CJ Ziegler in the bottom of the fifth. Wingnuts' starter Junior Guerra earned the win, allowing one earned run on nine hits in 7.0 IP. Guerra struck out eight and did not issue a walk. Jake Kahaulelio had three hits in the game, while Rodriguez and Ryan Khoury each scored three runs. Kahaulelio, Rodriguez, and Ziegler all had multi-RBI nights.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE JACKALS: The Wingnuts are 3-2 all-time against the New Jersey Jackals, including a 3-2 mark 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 5-4 and in second place in the Central Division, 0.5 game behind the Gary South Shore RailCats. Wichita finished 3-2 on their recent five-game road trip to Kansas City and Gary SouthShore. 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 4-5. The Jackals are in third place in the Can-Am League. The Wingnuts are seventh in the league in batting (.263), third in pitching (2.25), and first in fielding (.984). The Jackals are second in the Can-Am League in hitting (.302), fourth in pitching (6.08), and tied for second in fielding (.972).
TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts send Kristhiam Linares to the mound in the rubber game of their three-game series at home. Linares took a loss on Monday at Gary SouthShore in his Wingnuts' debut, allowing two earned runs on six hits in 5.0 IP. Linares spent the previous two seasons pitching in Italy. Linares pitched for Bollate in 2012, going 5-5 with one save and a 1.66 ERA in 15 starts and one relief appearance. Linares struck out 165 in 103.0 IP. In 2011, Linares was 8-4 with a 1.48 ERA for Codogno in 18 starts, striking out 211 in 127.2 IP. Linares originally signed with the Florida Marlins in 2004 as an international free agent and is 6-15 with a 4.30 ERA in four professional seasons. Linares reached Double-A Springfield in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization in 2009.
The Jackals go with right-hande David Filak who is 1-0 after beating the Sioux City Explorers on Monday at Lewis and Clark Park. Filak allowed two earned runs on four hits in 5.1 IP, walking one and striking out four. Filak pitched for the Low-A Rome Braves (South Atlantic League) last season, going 5-9 with one save and a 5.67 ERA in 18 starts and eight relief appearances. Filak struck out 102 batters in 101.2 IP. Filak was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 4th round in 2010 out of SUNY Oneonta. Filak is in his fourth season of professional baseball and is 9-22 with a 5.48 ERA in 61 career games, 51 of them starts. Filak has averaged 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings in his career while averaging 4.4 walks.
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 193 strikeouts rank third all-time, and are 25 shy of tying Blacksher for first place.
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 153-95 (.617) 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 13-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 22 starts and two relief outings over 146.1 IP (56 ER).
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 2.84 ERA in 19.0 IP for the Triple-A Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express (Texas).
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