Wingnuts Rally Late for Eighth Straight Win
Published on July 8, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
GARY, Ind. - The Wichita Wingnuts faced a deficit entering the seventh inning for the second night in a row, and a late rally once again brought them back as they claimed an 11-9 victory over the Gary SouthShore RailCats Friday night at U.S. Steel Yard to push their winning streak to eight in a row.
After Gary (25-22) scored sixth in the sixth to take their first lead of the night at 8-5, Wichita (30-16) came right back in the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, Martin Medina drew a walk to pull the Wingnuts within two. Matt Chavez followed with a two-run double off of Travis McGee (2-6) to tie the score.
Chase Johnson (3-0) retired the RailCats in order in the seventh, and Wichita then grabbed the lead in the eighth. Again the Wingnuts did their damage with two outs, as Zack Cox and Brent Clevlen hit back-to-back run-scoring doubles to put the visitors in front 10-8.
Gary scratched across a run in the bottom of the eighth to close the gap to one, but the Wingnuts answered in the next half inning on a solo shot by Chavez.
Wichita then brought Frankie Reed on for the bottom of the ninth, and he closed it out to earn his 10th save of the year, and seal the Wingnuts eighth straight victory.
The Wingnuts struck first for the second straight day, as a first inning homer by Cox and a wild pitch scored Medina to put Wichita in front 2-0 in the first couple of innings.
The RailCats answered with two of their own in the bottom of the second, on a two-run shot by Frank Martinez.
An RBI double by T.J. Mittelstaedt gave the visitors the lead back in the third, and Wichita pushed it to a three-run margin with two more in the fifth on a single by Cox and another RBI by Mittelstaedt.
The RailCats snatched the lead in the sixth. Brennan Metzger tripled in a run and scored on a groundout to bring Gary within one. Later in the frame with the bases loaded, Jarred Mederos hit a grand slam to cap the six-run sixth.
The Wingnuts will aim for their 10th straight series victory as they continue their four-game series with the RailCats Saturday night at U.S. Steel Yard. Veteran right-hander Tim Brown (5-2, 5.09) will be on the mound for Wichita, while Gary will counter with fellow righty Richard Castillo (3-2, 3.33). First pitch is set for 6:10, and the game can be heard on 1410 AM KGSO, as well as on TuneIn.
American Association Stories from July 8, 2016
- Linares Big Bat Powers Birds to 18-9 Win over Winnipeg - Sioux Falls Canaries
- AirHogs Take Game 2 Behind Strong Martin Start - Texas AirHogs
- Wingnuts Beat RailCats in Shootout at the Steel Yard - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Wingnuts Rally Late for Eighth Straight Win - Wichita Wingnuts
- Explorers Fall In Kansas City Opener - Sioux City Explorers
- Wiggins, Alen Power 'Dogs in Blowout - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Saints Offense Silenced in 8-1 Loss to RedHawks - St. Paul Saints
- Saints Knuckle Under, Sign Former Major Leaguer, Blaine High School Grad Dan Johnson - St. Paul Saints
- AirHogs Downed in Opener vs. Laredo - Texas AirHogs
- Wichita Stretches Streak to Seven - Wichita Wingnuts
- Wingnuts Collect 14 Hits to Beat RailCats 8-2 - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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