Wingnuts Climb to Top of South Division Following 5-2 Win
July 16, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (July 15, 2015) - The Wichita Wingnuts fell behind early for a fourth straight game on Wednesday night in Grand Prairie, but rallied to win 5-2 and take over sole possession of first place in the American Association's South Division. Starting pitcher Omar Bencomo went 6.0 strong innings and allowed four hits while matching the team's season-high for strikeouts by a pitcher with nine.
Bencomo (5-0) stranded a baserunner in a scoreless first inning before Grand Prairie got on the board in the second. With one out, Zane Chavez singled and later scored on Ridge Hoopii-Haslem's run-scoring double into left. The consecutive hits put the AirHogs (18-34) in front by a 1-0 score.
Wichita (29-22) responded by tying the game without the help of a hit in the top of the third. Leo Vargas reached on an error by first baseman Victor Diaz to start the frame. He stole second and then was able to continue running to third as a wild pitch slipped underneath the catcher's mitt. Jayce Ray brought him home on a fielder's choice groundball to short.
Grand Prairie responded with an unearned run to take a 2-1 lead after three. Ronnie Richardson was hit by a pitch and quickly stole second. He moved up to third on an errant pickoff attempt from Bencomo that ended up in center field. With two outs, Willie Cabrera drove a base hit up the middle to break the tie.
The Wingnuts trailed by one until the sixth inning. David Espinosa worked a walk, one of three times he did so, and moved to third on a T.J. Mittelstaedt ground-rule double. Matt Padgett scored both with a hard groundball through the right side. Another double from Harrison Kain brought in Padgett and gave the Wingnuts a 4-2 advantage.
T.J. Bozeman (2-5), the Grand Prairie starter, allowed a leadoff single to Luis Hernandez in the seventh and then walked a pair of hitters to load the bases. He managed to get two outs without any damage, but then issued another walk to Joash Brodin which forced in the Wingnuts fifth run.
Once the lead was established, Kevin Hooper was able to call on a bullpen that has been lights out of late. Frankie Reed, Al Yevoli, Daniel Bennett, and Dakota Watts combined to keep the AirHogs off the board for the final three innings. Their performance stretched the bullpen's scoreless inning streak to 18.1. In closing out his former team, Watts picked up his third save of the season.
The teams will return to QuikTrip Park for game two on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. The Wingnuts will hand the ball to RHP Jon Link (2-0) as he faces Grand Prairie LHP Bennett Whitmore (2-3). 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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