Wingnuts Make First Inning Runs Hold up to Even Series
July 11, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (July 11, 2015) - Attempting to make a couple of first inning runs hold up throughout an entire contest against a red-hot team like the Kansas City T-Bones is a dangerous proposition. The Wichita Wingnuts were successful in doing just that on Saturday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Jon Link was strong through 5.2 innings to keep the club ahead and three members of the bullpen combined to slam the door on the T-Bones with the final score 2-1.
The Wingnuts (26-21) jumped on Kansas City starter Casey Barnes right out of the gate. David Espinosa lined a single to start the bottom of the first inning. T.J. Mittelstaedt quickly followed by sharply grounding a ball down the left field line and into the corner to plate Espinosa and grab a 1-0 lead. Starlin Rodriguez drew a walk and Joash Brodin was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out. Matt Padgett's fielder's choice bouncer to the right side plated what turned out to be the final run of the game for the home team.
After Mittelstaedt's double, Barnes managed to go 17 hitters without allowing another hit. He also put together a streak of 13 batters retired in a row. The only other hit by Wichita in the game came off the bat of Mittelstaedt in the sixth inning. Barnes (2-3), who was pitching for the first time since June 21st, worked 6.0 innings and allowed two runs on three hits.
Meanwhile, the T-Bones (25-18) were unable to muster any offense against Wichita starter Jon Link until the sixth. Ryan Cavan reached on an infield single and moved up another 90 feet when Jake Blackwood also managed a base hit. Adam Bailey single through the right side to score Cavan and cut the lead in half. Espinosa came up throwing behind the runner at second who was caught in a rundown and eventually tagged out.
After he walked Robby Kuzdale to put two on base once again, Link (2-0) was removed. He allowed only the single run on seven hits in 5.2 innings. Daniel Bennett received the call from the pen and retired Vladimir Frias on a shallow fly ball to end the T-Bones threat.
The right-hander also struck out both hitters he faced to start the eighth before turning the game over to Al Yevoli. The southpaw recorded a pair of strikeouts in retiring all four hitters he matched up with. That left the game in the hands of closer Dakota Watts who entered in his first opportunity for a save with Wichita. He struck out the first two batters to step in against him and then ended the game on Frias's ground ball to third.
The series rolls on with game three scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The Wingnuts will send RHP Tim Brown (4-1) up against LHP Kris Regas (3-2) of the T-Bones. 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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