Wingnuts Avoid Obstruction, Cruise to 9-1 Win
July 24, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
LAREDO, TX (July 23, 2015) - The Wichita Wingnuts played their 59th game of the 2015 season on Thursday night in Laredo. Despite a high volume of games in a short amount of time, there is always a chance when a team arrives at the ballpark that something unexpected will occur. The Wingnuts were prepared to take advantage of the unexpected, four fielding errors and two catcher's obstructions, on their way to a series-opening 9-1 win over the Lemurs.
Jason Van Skike (6-2) allowed the first run of the game in the home half of the second inning. He, nor any other Wichita pitcher, would give up a run after that instance. Kevin Taylor led off the inning with the first of his three hits on the night, a double down the left field line. Juan Silverio scored him by punching a base hit to left and making it 1-0. The Wingnuts starter worked 5.2 innings and scattered six hits throughout his stay.
Wichita (36-23) was able to break through and grab the lead courtesy of help from the Laredo defense. Matt Padgett singled with two down and the inning appeared to be over when Joash Brodin rolled a groundball to short. However, after the apparent final out had been recorded, the home plate umpire awarded Brodin first base on catcher's obstruction. That put two on with two out for catcher John Nester. The backstop made the extra opportunity pay off by booming a two-RBI into the left center gap and putting the Wingnuts up 2-1.
Harrison Kain led off the fifth inning with a single and proceeded to steal second base. After a walk to Jayce Ray, David Espinosa bunted both runners into scoring position. Starlin Rodriguez bounced a ball to third with two outs that was booted by Silverio and ended up in left field. Kain scored easily, but Ray was thrown out at the plate on a strike from D'Vontrey Richardson.
More Laredo (32-27) miscues helped the Wingnuts blow the game open in the seventh. Espinosa reached on a one out bunt single and then moved to second on a wild throw from Silverio. Two batters later, Starlin Rodriguez singled in a run, moved to second on a throw to the plate, and then raced to third when the throw rolled to the backstop. Padgett earned a walk to put runners on the corners before a Brodin swing was once again obstructed by the mitt of Ryan Ortiz to load the bases. Nester was there to take advantage one more time. His single plated two runs and pushed the lead to 6-1. Luis Hernandez backed it up with another RBI single and the advantage grew to 7-1.
Brodin's two-run double down the right field line in the eighth provided the final scoring on the night as the Wingnuts left the bases loaded in the final inning. Scott Kuzminsky replaced Van Skike and recorded the final out of the sixth prior to working two more scoreless frames. Alex Koronis was impressive in his first appearance as a reliever, striking out two in a four-batter bottom of the ninth.
Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday night at 7:30 p.m. RHP Scott Richmond (1-1) who recently returned from the Pan-Am Games is on the hill. For information on season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Wingnuts' main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
American Association Stories from July 24, 2015
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- 'Cats Fall 5 Games Under .500 with Friday's 7-2 Loss - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Dogs Come Back in 8th to Topple Saints - Lincoln Saltdogs
- X's Extend Win Streak To Five Games With 7-2 Win - Sioux City Explorers
- Late Inning Rally Not Enough for Sioux Falls - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Goldeyes Nip T-Bones, End Losing Streak - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- RedHawks Drop Game Two at Rockland - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Blasters Drop Series Opener in Grand Prairie - Joplin Blasters
- X's Snuff out RailCats Rally with 5-Run 10th - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Wingnuts Avoid Obstruction, Cruise to 9-1 Win - Wichita Wingnuts
- X's Win 9-4 In Ten Innings Vs Railcats - Sioux City Explorers
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
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