Wingnuts Cap Celebration with 7-2 Win over Grand Prairie
May 30, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS - Saturday night began with a pre-game ceremony to celebrate the Wichita Wingnuts 2014 American Association championship. The night ended with a handshake line near the mound in celebration of a 7-2 win over the Grand Prairie AirHogs. A great second outing for starting pitcher Jason Van Skike and a shakeup of the batting order was just what the team needed to move to 6-2 on the young season.
After three scoreless innings for both teams it was the Wingnuts who broke through first in the fourth. Leadoff hitter Jayce Ray, who paces the team in batting average, started the frame with a double off of left-hander Bennett Whitmore. Luis Hernandez backed it up with a double to put runners on the corner with nobody out. A passed ball charged to catcher Zane Chavez resulted in Ray scoring and the Nuts taking a 1-0 lead. Hernandez, who had moved to second on the passed ball, was bunted to third by David Espinosa and scored on T.J. Mittelstaedt's deep sacrifice fly to put Wichita on top 2-0.
The Wingnuts used four hits in the fifth inning to plate a couple more runs and take a 4-0 advantage. Singles by Dustin Geiger and Brent Dean to open the inning allowed Tyler Coughenour to bunt them both into scoring position. Ray and Hernandez each collected RBI singles in the ensuing at bats to extend the lead.
Wichita threw up a crooked number once again in the sixth to establish some separation from the AirHogs (4-5). Three straight hits to open the inning chased Whitmore from the game before he could record an out. He allowed seven runs, six earned, on ten hits and walked one. The runs were driven in on a two RBI double by Alberto Gonzalez and a run-scoring single from Dean. The inning ended with the home team in front 7-0.
Van Skike lasted 7.0 innings and surrendered just one run on three hits. The AirHogs first hit was registered in the sixth inning by Chris Elder. The right-hander struck out three and walked a pair. Scott Kuzminsky worked the final 2.0 innings on the hill and surrendered one run in the ninth, but worked out of a jam on a game-ending line drive double play hit into by Jamodrick McGruder.
Ray, Hernandez, Gonzalez, Mittelstaedt, and Dean each finished with two hits on the evening. The AirHogs received a pair of hits from both Elder and Victor Ferrante.
The rubber game of the series will take place on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. with LHP Charlie Lowell of Wichita squaring off with RHP Brett Wallach of Grand Prairie. It is Riverfest Button Day which means anyone with a Riverfest button will receive a free general admission ticket to the game. Also, Teenview Magazine will attempt to hold a world record breaking water balloon fight after the game. 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.
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