Wingnuts Game Notes & Roster Moves: June 3
June 3, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
Prior to tonight's game, the Wingnuts have announced the following roster moves:
- RHP Richard Ruff released.
-Acquired RHP Chase Johnson from the Sioux Falls Canaries for cash.
Acquired late in the 2014 season, Johnson made eight appearances out of the Wichita bullpen over the remainder of the regular season before working five scoreless innings during the Wingnuts run to the 2014 American Association Championship. After saving 15 games for the Canaries in 2015, Johnson had made five appearances with three saves for Sioux Falls so far this season, prior to today's trade. An updated roster with 23 active players, one on the disabled list, and one inactive is attached.
After posting a season-high 19 hits in a 14-5 rout of Laredo last night, the Wingnuts welcome the Gary SouthShore RailCats to town tonight to begin a three-game series at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
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Wichita Wingnuts (5-9) vs. Gary SouthShore RailCats (7-8)
RHP Jon Link (1-2, 7.97) vs. RHP Travis McGee (0-3, 10.28)
6:05 p.m. - Lawrence-Dumont stadium (Wichita, Kans.)
COX LEADS WINGNUTS ROUT
Zack Cox drove in a career-high five runs as the Wichita Wingnuts routed the Laredo Lemurs to earn a split of their four-game series Thursday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Trailing 2-0 in the second, Christian Stringer pulled one back with a single, before Cox launched an opposite field three-run homer to give Wichita the lead. Two innings later it was T.J. Mittelstaedt's turn, as he blasted a three-run shot of his own to make it 7-2. Leo Vargas added two more to the Wingnuts total in the fifth, pushing the margin to seven. After Laredo pulled two back with single runs in the sixth and seventh, Wichita ended the Lemurs comeback hopes, putting together a five-run seventh inning. Harrison Kain brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly, but it was with two outs and nobody on that the rally started. Cox, Brent Clevlen, and Mittelstaedt put together three straight run-scoring doubles, with Cox's double bringing in two runs to set a new career-high and make him the first Wingnut to have a five-RBI game this season. Mittelstaedt had four RBIs for the night for the second time this year.
LEESMAN EARNS THE WIN
In his second start of the year, Charlie Leesman earned his first quality start and first win with the Wingnuts for his efforts last night in the rout of Laredo. The lefty gave up two runs in the first inning, but settled in after that, retiring the next nine he faced. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native ended up going six innings, yielding three runs on four hits, and allowing just two hits after the first inning. The win is the southpaw's first win as a starting pitcher since April 28, of last year while pitching for Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.
FAMILIAR FACE RETURNS
The Wichita Wingnuts added a familiar face to their bullpen Friday, acquiring right-hander Chase Johnson from Sioux Falls in exchange for cash. Johnson was picked up by the Wingnuts late in 2014 and after making eight appearances for Wichita at the end of the regular season, he tossed five scoreless innings out of the bullpen during the Wingnuts 2014 American Association Championship run. The righty had made five appearances for the Canaries so far in 2016.
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