Wingnuts Extend Streak to Five with Wild 8-7 Walk-Off Win
Published on July 9, 2014 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (July 8, 2013) - The Wichita Wingnuts battled back from a deficit three different times, including one in the ninth inning, on their way to their first walk-off win of the season on Tuesday at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Center fielder Brent Clevlen finished the day 4-5 with two RBI, the final one ending the game in dramatic fashion with the Wingnuts on top 8-7.
For a second straight night, the Sioux Falls Canaries (20-32) took advantage of a leadoff walk to score a run in the very first inning. Starting pitcher, Justin Klipp, walked the first batter of the game, Steve Tinoco. Tinoco moved to second on a single by A.J. Kirby-Jones and then scored when clean-up hitter Chris Duffy singled him home.
Kyle Ruwe smothered the Wingnuts' bats through three hitless innings, before finally cracking in the fourth. Chris McClendon hit a sharp bouncer through the middle to break the ice and lead off the frame. The next batter, Jake Kahaulelio, grounded into a double play to erase the runner, but the Nuts weren't done. Back-to-back singles by Brent Clevlen and Carlo Testa made it possible for Chris McMurray to line a controversial two-RBI double to left that put the Wingnuts ahead 2-1. Sioux Falls believed the ball clearly landed foul, but lost a prolonged argument and the ruling was upheld.
The Canaries would re-take control in the fifth, before extending their lead to three in the sixth. Matt Hitt, the nine-hitter and catcher, singled one home in the fifth with one out and then Tinoco drove in another with a fielder's choice groundout to third. In the sixth, the first two batters reached against Klipp and he was brought out of the game for Daniel Bennett. Klipp went 5.0 innings and gave up five earned runs on seven hits. Carlos Mendez moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and then Chris Valencia scored the pair with a single. After the dust settled, the score was 5-2 in Sioux Falls' favor.
Trevor Whyte sparked Wichita (35-17) in the seventh inning with a two-out single off of Ruwe and then came home to score when David Amberson put down a bunt towards third for a single. The catcher, Hitt, fielded the ball, but in his rush, stumbled and threw wild to first. Whyte touched the plate and the speedy Amberson went to second. After Ryan Khoury walked to continue the frame, Chris McClendon lined a game-tying two-RBI single through the left side off of reliever Joe Testa to even the score at five. Ruwe worked 6.2 innings, and allowed five runs, three earned, on eight hits with five strikeouts.
The Wingnuts responded by throwing their set-up man, Patrick Mincey, in the eighth inning. Mincey gave up a single to Valencia and then walked Sam Lind to put two runners on base with two down. Hitt lined a ball to left that Testa couldn't handle as it glanced off of his glove and rolled to the wall for a two-run error. In the top of the ninth, the Canaries put runners on second and third with nobody out against Matt Nevarez (2-0), as they attempted to stretch their lead. However, the big right-hander had other plans, lowering his ERA to 0.44 as he retired the next three hitters without allowing a run to score.
That became a huge development in the ninth, when the Nuts rallied, even after the bases were empty, with the team down to their final out. McClendon singled and promptly stole second against Alan DeRatt (0-4), the Sioux Falls closer. With a full count, Kahaulelio fouled off two straight pitches before muscling a shallow single to left that tied the game. On the throw to the plate he headed to second and into scoring position. The Canaries opted to face Clevlen, even with a base open, and the former Major Leaguer made that decision hurt. He ripped a line drive over the head of Tinoco in right, that easily allowed Kahaulelio to score and sparked a wild celebration on the field in between first and second base.
McClendon, Clevlen, and McMurray all finished with a pair of runs batted in. The game represented the first walk-off win in 2014 for the Wingnuts and also the first time this season that Wichita won after trailing entering the ninth.
The Wingnuts will look for the sweep and a six-game winning streak in the series finale on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Jason Van Skike (5-2) will throw for Wichita against RHP Kyle Vasquez (4-3) of Sioux Falls. It will be another edition of Way-Back Wednesday, as bell-bottoms and big hair will be the norm when the team pays tribute to the 70's. 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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