Wingnuts Bounce Back Against Saints
Published on July 2, 2010 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the St. Paul Saints 9-3 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Friday night.
The Wingnuts broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth to take a lead they would never give up. Jake Bradshaw singled down the left field line and took third on Josh Horn's double in the same direction. Saints' starter Jason Godin struck out Ryan Patterson, but newcomer Jorge Cortes lined a sacrifice fly to center field to score Bradshaw and give the Wingnuts a 3-2 lead. Jackson Melian walked and Mario Delgado followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield that scored Horn. Melian came around on Jeff Christy's line drive single to right-center to make it 5-2.
The Saints erased a 2-1 Wingnuts lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI single to left-center by Ole Sheldon off of reliever Clint McKeever. McKeever got Jason Cooper on a flyout to center that left runners on first and second with two outs when Doug Hurn came in from the bullpen. Hurn walked Brent Krause to load the bases but came back to strike out Gerard Haran to end the inning, setting up the Wingnuts' go-ahead rally.
McKeever took over for Wingnuts' starter Nick Singleton in the top of the second after Singleton was ejected by home plate umpire Ryan Simmons for throwing consecutive pitches behind Haran. McKeever went 3.1 innings, allowing two earned runs. Hurn earned the win in relief, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings and striking out six of the seven outs that he recorded.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, catcher Flint Wipke dropped a popup that allowed Melian to reach first to lead off the frame. On the very next pitch, Delgado ripped a two-run home run over the right field wall to put the Wingnuts in front.
Wichita broked the game open with a three-run seventh against reliever Jon Plefka. Melian singled up the middle leading off the inning and advanced to third with no outs on a throwing error by catcher Flint Wipke. Plefka retired the next two hitters, but Steve Pearson drove in Melian with a single up the middle. Michael Thompson followed with a base hit through the left side. With Jake Bradshaw at the plate, a series of two wild pitches and a passed ball allowed Pearson and Thompson to score the Wingnuts seventh and eighth runs.
The Wingnuts added a run in the eighth on an RBI double down the line by Melian that scored Ryan Patterson from first. Facing Justin Dowdy in the ninth, the Saints plated a single run on a two-out, RBI single by Josh Petersen. Dowdy struck out the side in the inning to end the game.
The Wingnuts finish the home portion of their series against the Saints on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Adam Cowart goes to the mound against rookie right-hander Ashton Dorris. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.
American Association Stories from July 2, 2010
- Wingnuts Bounce Back Against Saints - Wichita Wingnuts
- Pheasants' magic number at one with 6-5 win - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Saints Whiff at a Chance for a Four Game Win Streak in 9-3 Loss - St. Paul Saints
- Dogs Beat Pelicans With More Good Pitching - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Pelicans Return on Tuesday for 7 Games, Beach Towels, Fireworks - Pensacola Pelicans
- Saints Sign Bethany Lutheran Lefty Dorris - St. Paul Saints
- American Association Recap - AA
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