Wingnuts Drop 6-5 Decision in 14-Inning Marathon
May 24, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
GARY, IN (May 23, 2014) - The Wichita Wingnuts and Gary SouthShore RailCats began play in game two of their four game series at U.S. Steelyard on Friday night in front of 3,387 fans. By the time a winner was decided in the 14th inning it was early Saturday morning and there were only a few hearty souls left in attendance.
Wichita scored first in the third inning when Jake Kahaulelio doubled home Ryan Khoury to grab the 1-0 edge against RailCats' starter Stephen Bougher. However, the lead would be short-lived when Gary answered with a third inning run of their own against Wingnuts' hurler Justin Klipp to tie the score.
The RailCats managed to take their first lead of the series via a fielder's choice RBI groundout by Drew Martinez with one out in the fifth. The Wingnuts would rally back two innings later when they tied the game at two on an RBI triple by catcher Chris McMurray. McMurry then raced in to score on a wild pitch by reliever Kevin Brahney, who had replaced Bougher, to snatch away the lead at 3-2. The starter went six innings and allowed three runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
Klipp's day would come to a close when he allowed a run to the RailCats once more in the seventh, which tied the game. Klipp worked a quality 6.1 innings and allowed three runs on just four hits before being replaced by Daniel Bennett.
Wichita re-claimed the lead in the eighth; taking a one run advantage, on single by J.T. Wise that scored Carlo Testa. The Wingnuts added an insurance run in the ninth inning when Dillon Hazlett led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by David Amberson, and eventually raced home on a passed ball charged to Gary catcher Craig Maddox. The second run made it 5-3 in the Wingnuts' favor.
Kevin Hooper called on closer Matt Nevarez to try and close out the game in the bottom half of the ninth. Zac Mitchell appeared to ground out to first base, but Wise had the ball bounce off of his glove and into right field to give the RailCats a leadoff runner. After Nevarez struck out Cody Bishop to record the first out, Danny Pulfer drew a walk. Drew Martinez followed with an RBI single to cut the lead to one and put runners on the corners. That set the stage for Josh Romanski to tie the game on a sacrifice fly to deep center. Wally Backman Jr. popped out to short with the potential winning run on third base and the game continued on.
The RailCats had plenty of chances to win the ballgame early in the extra frames, but Jason Van Skike kept finding a way out of the inning. He stranded the bases full in the 11th inning by striking out Backman on a full count pitch. In the very next inning he stranded two RailCat runners again. Van Skike ended up throwing 3.2 innings and allowing nothing on three base knocks.
Matt Robertson recorded the final out of the 13th and came on to work the 14th as well. He allowed a leadoff double to the gap in left-center field. The next batter Adam Taylor, failed to lay a sacrifice bunt down on the first pitch, but singled through the middle on the next. Pinch-runner and pitcher Morgan Coombs crossed home plate with the winning run.
Most of the players in the lineup on each side made seven appearances at the plate and only four finished the night without having recorded a hit. Each team used six different pitchers before the game concluded.
The two teams will get right back at it on Saturday night with a 6:10 p.m. first pitch. Left-hander Alan Williams gets the start for Wichita and he will oppose the Gary right-hander Morgan Coombs. 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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- Wingnuts Captured by Bishop; Lose 7-1 - Wichita Wingnuts
- RailCats Roll Late to a 7-1 Win over Wichita - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Wingnuts Drop 6-5 Decision in 14-Inning Marathon - Wichita Wingnuts
- American Association Results - AA
- RailCats Outlast Wingnuts in 14 with a 6-5 Walk off Win - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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