Wingnuts Sweep into First Place Tie
Published on August 16, 2010 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
With the win, the Wingnuts move into a first place tie with Sioux Falls for the second half division title. Eight Wingnuts hitters had at least one hit while all nine starters reached base at least once. The team pounded out 16 total hits and pushed Wichita's season record above .500 for the first time in 2010 at 42-41.
After starter Sean Teague escaped a jam in the top of the first when he induced an inning-ending double play off the bat of Beau Torbert, the Winguts' offense handed the right-hander an early lead. Ryan Patterson led off with a double to left-center and moved to third when Cesar Suarez hit a short single down the right field line. Jorge Cortes pulled a groundball single through the right side to give Wichita a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Jorge Delgado extended his hitting streak to 13 games in a row with a two-out, RBI single through the left.
Teague worked out of jams in the second and third, stranding five runners to keep the Wingnuts in front. Michael Bell hit a three-run home run on a towering flyball down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth to increase the lead to 5-0.
The Pheasants got on the board in the fifth, helped by a throwing error from Teague that allowed Tim Hutting to reach second base leading off. Two batters later, Beau Torbert singled Hutting to third with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Teague was charged with a balk that scored Hutting and made it 5-1. Trevor Lawhorn added a sacrifice fly to cut the Wingnuts' lead to three.
Patterson, who finished the night 4 for 5 with two RBI and three runs, hit a line drive solo home run to left field with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to give the Wingnuts a 6-2 lead.
Sioux Falls rallied against Jacob Wiley, who worked a scoreless sixth, loading the bases with no outs in the seventh. Dustin Pease came in from the bullpen and retired the side, limiting the Pheasants to two runs.
After Brandon Mathes tossed the Wingnuts' first 1-2-3 inning of the night in the top of the eighth, the Wingnuts put the game away with three runs in the bottom half. Patterson, Suarez, and Cortes all drove in runs. Mathes allowed one run in the top of the ninth before finishing the game to earn his first career save.
Teague picked up the win, pitching five innings and allowing just the two unearned runs. Teague struck out two and walked six. Pheasants' starter Ben Moore took the loss, allowing six earned runs in six innings. Moore struck out four batters, tying an American Association single-season record set by Fort Worth's Cory Walters in 2006.
The three-game winning streak is the second for the Wingnuts' this season. The game also marked the first time this year that Sioux Falls has lost four in a row. The Wingnuts gained a split of the season series with the Pheasants at 10-10. Wichita had 10 or more base hits for a seventh straight game.
The Wingnuts open a four-game series against the Sioux City Explorers, beginning with a double header on Tuesday night at 5:05 p.m. Jae Jung makes his Wingnuts' debut in the opener against right-hander Ty Marotz. Kevin Angelles is slated for the nightcap against righty John Leonard. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.
American Association Stories from August 16, 2010
- Moore Sets Team Record But Pheasants Fall to Wichita - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Wingnuts Sweep into First Place Tie - Wichita Wingnuts
- Paduch Sends Captains to Fourth Straight Loss - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Paduch and Power Lead Lincoln to Victory - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Cruz, Meyer American Association Players of the Week - AA
- Saints Reliever Meyer Named Pointstreak Pitcher of the Week in American Association - St. Paul Saints
- Negro League Stamp to be Unveiled at LaGrave Field - Fort Worth Cats
- Rosario's Record, Captains' Comeback Not Enough - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
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