Wingnuts Slug Their Way to Fifth Straight
August 1, 2012 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
AMARILLO, TX- The Wichita Wingnuts (42-29) finished a three-game sweep of the Amarillo Sox (35-37) with a 15-10 win at Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium on Wednesday night.
One night after cranking out 19 base hits, Wichita used an 18-hit attack to win their fifth consecutive game. Seven different starters had at least one hit, while eight scored at least one run. Wilberto Ortiz fell a triple shy of the cycle, going 4 for 5 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored, and five RBI. Greg Porter had three hits and four RBI. Wichita's bullpen combined for five and one-third innings, allowing just one earned run.
Trailing 6-4 in the top of the fourth, Wichita scored five runs to take the lead for good. Jared McDonald and Ortiz smacked back-to-back doubles to slice the Sox' lead to 6-5. After Ortiz stole third base, Ryan Khoury singled through the left side to tie the game. Mike Conroy singled to left center while John Rodriguez reached on an error by Sox' first baseman Tim Alberts to load the bases with one out. Amarillo starter Cliff Springston was relieved by Chad Povich. Mark Wagner put Wichita back in front with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Khoury. Porter and David Peralta followed with back-to-back line drive singles to center that made it 9-6 Wingnuts.
The Sox cut the lead to 9-8 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI triple from Harrison Kain and an RBI single from Tim Alberts. The Sox put runners on second and third with one out before Jared Simon worked out of the jam by retiring Van Pope on a foul popup to first base and Tyler Goodro on a deep flyout to left field.
Ortiz hit a two-run homer to deep left-center in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 11-8.
After Amarillo scratched out an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth, Rodriguez lined a two-out, two-run single to right-center in the top of the seventh that made it 13-9 Wichita.
Ortiz capped his performance with a two-out, two-run double to right-center in the top of the eighth.
Amarillo scored their final run in the bottom of the eighth on another RBI single by Alberts.
Josh Dew made his official return to the Wingnuts with a scoreless bottom of the ninth.
Porter hit a two-out, two-run double to left-center in the top of the first to give the Wingnuts an early 2-0 lead. Amarillo responded with three in the bottom half, highlighted by a two-out, two-run double to center from Goodro.
The Wingnuts took advantage of two Sox' errors in the top of the second to tie the game, and went in front in the third when Porter drove in Rodriguez from third base on a groundball.
A two-run homer from Pope and a solo shot from Chuck Lofgren in the bottom of the third made it 6-4 Amarillo.
Simon earned the win in relief with one and two-thirds scoreless innings.
Anthony Capra started for the Wingnuts and took a no-decision, allowing eight earned runs on seven hits in three and one-third innings. Capra walked three and struck out four.
Springston took the loss, allowing nine runs, five earned, on nine hits in three and one-third innings. Springston walked none and struck out one.
With two stolen bases in the game, the Wingnuts tied their team single-season record of 99 set back in 2008.
The Wingnuts' 15-game road trip continues on Friday night with a three-game series against the Sioux Falls Pheasants. First pitch at Sioux Falls Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. All the action can be heard locally on Oldies 92.7 KWME and worldwide at www.pressboxproductionsradio.com following the completion of the feature broadcast of the 78th annual NBC World Series.
The Wingnuts return home on Monday, August 13th when they host the El Paso Diablos. Individual tickets can be purchased by calling (316) 755-SEAT, or by visiting www.selectaseat.com
For 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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