Wingnuts Lead Start to Finish, Best AirHogs 9-1
May 17, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS - After escaping with a wild win on opening night, the Wichita Wingnuts (2-0) won in a much more comfortable fashion on Friday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. After a 30-minute rain delay prior to first pitch, the Wingnuts jumped ahead in the second inning and never relinquished the lead on their way to a 9-1 victory over the Grand Prairie AirHogs (0-2).
Wichita put at least one run on the board in four consecutive innings after being shutout in the bottom of the first. They used four consecutive hits, three of the extra base variety, to strike first in the second inning. Dillon Hazlett legged out a leadoff double ahead of Chris McMurray and Carlo Testa who knocked in a run each with a double and triple respectively. David Amberson capped off the inning by extending the lead to 3-0 with a single up the middle.
The Wingnuts tallied three more in the third on an RBI triple by Chun-Hsiu Chen which was immediately backed up by a run-scoring double courtesy of J.T. Wise. Two batters later McMurray rose to the occasion again with a sacrifice fly to center. The Wingnuts' backstop finished the day 2-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. After the inning ended, the Wingnuts held a 6-0 lead.
Wichita tacked on three more insurance runs over the next two innings. Chen and Wise added to their totals with RBI extra base hits in the fourth inning. In the fifth, McMurray welcomed new pitcher Brett Hunter to the ballgame by driving the first pitch of his at-bat over the wall in left field for the Wingnuts' first home run of the year.
Meanwhile Anthony Capra was dealing on the hill. The southpaw allowed an AirHogs' runner to reach third base in each of the first two innings, but never gave in. He ended up earning the win after working 6.0 shutout innings and allowing four hits while striking out eight opposing batters. On the other side, Grand Prairie starter Trevor Harden was chased after 4.0 innings, having allowed eight earned runs on nine hits and three walks.
Capra turned the ball over to relievers Matt Robertson and Daniel Bennett to work the final three innings. Robertson allowed the lone run of the night for the AirHogs in the seventh on an RBI single by Vince DiFazio that followed a Palmer Karr Jr. double. Bennett allowed a hit and walked one, but finished the game without a run crossing the plate.
Right-hander Tim Brown will make his Wingnuts debut on Saturday night in game three of the four-game series with the AirHogs. Grand Prairie counters with lefty Brandon Bargas. Come out to Lawrence-Dumont Stadium to meet the Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders who will be in attendance at the game. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and the game can be heard on 92.7 KWME. 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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