Wingnuts Survive Late Scare, Beat Ottawa 5-3
Published on August 2, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
OTTAWA, ONTARIO (August 2, 2015) - The Wichita Wingnuts needed a big fourth inning and a great defensive play from T.J. Mittelstaedt in the eighth to hold off the Ottawa Champions on Sunday afternoon. After falling behind early, Wichita scored four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead and watched their third baseman turn a double play on his own with the tying run aboard down the stretch. Combined, those plays helped Scott Richmond win his first start north of the border since winning the gold medal with Team Canada in the Pan-Am Games.
As they have in every game to this point on the trip, the Wingnuts (41-26) fell behind early on. The Champions (27-34) received singles from Mike Schwartz, Bryce Massanari, and Chris Winder to load the bases in the third. With one out, Daniel Bick lifted a sacrifice fly to right that scored the first run of the game. Richmond was able to strand two runners at the conclusion of the inning.
Spot starter Dan Meyer (0-2) was effective in holding the Nuts without a hit in the first three innings. In the fourth, the bats awoke in a big way. David Espinosa, led off with the first hit for the club and moved to second when T.J. Mittelstaedt worked a walk. With one out, Matt Padgett stayed hot with a run-scoring single to tie the score at 1-1. One out later, Tyler Heil drove in his first run in a Wichita uniform by roping a double over the head of Schwartz in left field. With the Wingnuts in front for the first time, Jerry Gonzalez took a free pass to load the bases. Leo Vargas chopped a ball to first that ricocheted off the glove of Jon Talley and into right field to score two more and make it 4-1.
One final run was added to the ledger by the Wingnuts in the seventh. With two outs and the bases clear, Jayce Ray singled and stole second. Espinosa scored him with a base hit into left that increased the advantage to four runs. Espinosa finished the day 3-4 with a walk.
Richmond (3-1) shut down the Ottawa lineup for the rest of his 7.0 inning stay in the game. He scattered eight hits and struck out three while allowing a single run. Frankie Reed entered to open the eighth inning and walked both batters that he faced before being removed in favor of fellow southpaw Iden Nazario. Nazario also walked the first two hitters he saw, forcing in a run in the process. The next batter, Talley, drove in a second run with a sacrifice fly to left.
With the tying run on first and one out, Kevin Hooper went to the bullpen one more time for Daniel Bennett. On the second pitch to Winder, the right fielder rolled a ball along the third base line. Mittelstaedt lunged to his right, speared the ball, rose to his feet, touched third base, and fired across the diamond in rapid succession to end the inning with Wichita still up 5-3.
Dakota Watts was handed another chance to record a save and did not waste the opportunity. He retired all three hitters that challenged him to pick up save number 12.
Game three will be held at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park in Ottawa at 7:05 p.m. RHP Tim Brown (8-1) will take the mound against LHP Andrew Werner (8-5) of the Champions. 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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