Wingnuts, Blasters Split Twin Bill
July 12, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, Kans. - The Wichita Wingnuts and Joplin Blasters split their doubleheader Tuesday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, with Joplin winning game one 7-4, and Wichita claiming a 6-2 victory in game two.
In game one, the Wingnuts (31-18) held the lead three different times, but could not hold on to any of them. The home team opened the scoring in the second with an RBI single by Richard Prigatano, only to get pegged back on an Oscar Mesa single in the third.
Wichita took a two-run advantage in the home half of the inning, as Zack Cox launched a solo homer off Frank Del Valle (1-3), and Matt Chavez plated a run with a single.
The Blasters (15-34) evened the score once again in the fifth, when Sean Smith took Jon Link (6-3) deep for a two-run shot.
An RBI single by Martin Medina in the bottom of the inning put the Wingnuts in front 4-3, only to see a three-run Joplin sixth inning wrestle the lead away for good.
The visitors then added one more insurance run in the seventh to cap off the victory, which ended their 14-game losing streak.
In the second game, Wichita (32-18) greeted Blasters starter Raul Rivera (0-3) with three straight singles, then watched as the southpaw walked T.J. Mittelstaedt and Chavez to make it 2-0 Wingnuts.
Joplin (15-35) pulled one back in the third, taking advantage of an error to score an unearned run with two outs.
The Wingnuts added two more to the lead in the third, on an RBI single by Chavez and run-producing double by Brent Dean.
Chavez was it again in the fifth, this time cranking a solo homer to stretch the lead to 5-1.
Wichita then added one more insurance run in the sixth, as Christian Stringer hit a sacrifice fly to score Leo Vargas, who had tripled.
Garrett Gould turned in his best start as a Wingnut, yielding one unearned run in four innings. The righty and the bullpen duo of Jesse Pratt (4-2) and Seth Harvey combined to set down 10 Blasters in a row in the contest, before Joplin broke the string and scored a two-out run in the seventh.
The Wingnuts and Blasters continue their four-game series Wednesday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. First pitch is set for 7:05, and the game can be heard on 1410 AM KGSO, as well as on TuneIn.
For information on 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.
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