Wichita Wingnuts Game Notes - May 28th, 2013

Published on May 28, 2013 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WINGNUTS DOMINATE IN SERIES OPENER: The Wichita Wingnuts set season-highs in runs scored and base hits in a 13-2 win over the Amarillo Sox on Monday night. Wichita totaled 16 hits in the victory, with eight different players collecting at least one hit and one run scored. CJ Ziegler and John Rodriguez both homered, while Ziegler, Abel Nieves, and Jared McDonald each had three-hit nights. Wichita scored six times in the bottom of the first inning to take early control of the game. The Wingnuts had the leadoff hitter on base in seven of their eight team at bats, and scored eight of their 13 runs with two outs. Jon Link earned the win, allowing two earned runs in 8.0 IP, scattering four hits. Link retired the leadoff hitter in seven of the eight innings he started, and at one point retired 16 consecutive hitters. Link walked two and struck out three. Josh Dew tossed a perfect top of the ninth to close out the win.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE SOX: The Wingnuts are 16-11 all-time against the Amarillo Sox, including an 8-4 mark at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The Sox are in their third season in the American Association. The Pensacola Pelicans moved their operations to Amarillo following the 2010 season. The Amarillo Dillas were an independent team from 1994-2010, and won the final three championships in the United League. The Dillas also spent time in the Texas-Louisiana and Central Leagues. Bobby Brown enters his first season as manager of the Sox. Brown managed the Abilene Prairie Dogs in the North American League in 2012 and was a .300 hitter during a 10-year playing career. Amarillo features former Wingnuts' outfielder David Peralta, who hit .332 with 70 RBI as a rookie last season. The Sox' pitching staff is led by Jason Johnson, who pitched 11 seasons in the Major Leagues from 1997-2008 and was a teammate of Wingnuts' manager Kevin Hooper with the Detroit Tigers in 2005.

SERIES MATCHUP: The Wingnuts are 6-5 and in second place in the Central Division, 1.0 game behind the Gary SouthShore RailCats. Wichita recently lost two of three to the Can-Am League's New Jersey Jackals. Amarillo is 4-7 on the year and trail the Laredo Lemurs by 6.0 games in the South Division. Amarillo lost two of three vs. Grand Prairie. The Wingnuts are fourth in the league in hitting (.280), third in pitching (2.68), and first in defense (.988). The Sox are eighth in batting (.260), 13th in pitching (6.60), and 12th in fielding (.952).

TONIGHT'S STARTERS: The Wingnuts go with left-hander Ryan Hinson who is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts. Hinson is coming off a tough loss last Thursday vs. New Jersey in which he set a Wingnuts' single-game record with 13 strikeouts. Hinson allowed one earned run on four hits over 8.0 IP, but the Wingnuts lost the game 1-0. Hinson's 13 strikeouts eclipsed the 12 Chad Sherman collected on July 10th, 2011 en route to a two-hit shutout vs. Shreveport-Bossier.

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- 6 with a 3.44 ERA all-time at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in 22 starts and two relief outings over 146.1 IP (56 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 is 2-1 with a 4.86 ERA (20 ER, 37.0 IP) in six career starts and one relief appearance against the Sox.

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.

Amarillo goes with right-hander Joe Newby who is 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA in two starts. Newby last pitched on Wednesday vs. Winnipeg and took the loss, allowing four earned runs on five hits in 5.0 IP in an eventual 5-0 decision. Newby returns to professional baseball after missing the 2012 season. Newby last pitched in 2011 for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque. Newby is 23-25 with two saves and a 3.85 ERA in eight professional seasons in which he has averaged 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings and only 0.5 home runs. Newby originally signed with the Oakland Athletics out of Colorado State University-Pueblo in 2004. Newby also pitched for the Seattle Mariners' organization, reaching Triple-A Tacoma in 2009. This is Newby's second season in independent baseball having pitched for the Atlantic League's Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in 2010 before signing with Los Angeles.

PITCHING STRONG: The Wingnuts rank third in the American Association with a 2.68 ERA. Wichita's starting rotation has been especially tough. Wichita starters own a 3.00 ERA with 60 strikeouts against just 18 walks in 69.0 IP. The starters have also allowed three or fewer earned runs in 10 of 11 games this season.

NIEVES NOTCHES 500: Wingnuts' third baseman Abel Nieves had three hits in Monday's win. Nieves' first-inning double was the 500th base hit of his professional career and reached the Triple-A level three times with the Los Angeles Angels organization.

IMMINENT MILESTONE FOR CAPRA : Wingnuts' left-hander Anthony Capra has 495 career strikeouts, needing five more to reach 500. Capra fanned 170 between two levels of the Oakland Athletics' chain in 2009 and was named their Organizational Pitcher of the Year.

ZIEGLER APPROACHING RECORD: Wingnuts' first baseman CJ Ziegler has six home runs this season. Ziegler also has 24 home runs in a Wingnuts' uniform over the last two years, which ranks tied for second in franchise history. Ziegler is just two 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 154-96 (.616) 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 3.40 ERA for the High-A Carolina League's Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta) with 58 strikeouts and just 22 hits allowed in 39.2 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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