Wingnuts Test Fate Too Many Times and Fall 4-3 to Canaries
June 30, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
SIOUX FALLS, SD (June 29, 2015) - Leading by a 3-2 score on Monday night in Sioux Falls, the Wichita Wingnuts managed to strand the tying run in scoring position three innings in a row in advance of the final frame. The team was not as fortunate in the ninth. R.J. Perucki lined a walk-off single up the middle to break a 3-3 tie and give the Sioux Falls Canaries a 4-3 win in the opening game of the series.
Omar Bencomo gave up the only earned run of his first outing since returning to the Wingnuts (19-17) in the very first inning. Brian Humphries bounced a fly ball off the top of the wall in left and over for a solo home run to put the Canaries ahead 1-0.
The Canaries (17-20) added a run to their lead with some help from the second of three errors committed by the Wichita defense. Humphries lined a sharp single to right and David Espinosa tried to play the ball on a short hop which skittered under his glove and to the wall. Richard Stock's sacrifice fly would drive the runner in and make it 2-0.
One week after chasing right-hander Stephen Bougher from the game in 4.0 innings, the Wingnuts could not solve him until the fifth. John Nester began a string of three consecutive singles that loaded the bases with one out. Trevor Jones struck out which left the inning in the hands of veteran Luis Hernandez. The second baseman found a hole with a groundball to the left side to cut the lead in half. David Espinosa followed with a two-RBI single and the Wingnuts overtook Sioux Falls for a 3-2 lead.
In the Canaries' sixth, Chris Grayson doubled to start the inning, but was quickly dispatched by Bencomo on a deceptive pickoff move. Michael Wing reached second on a single and an error in the seventh, moved to third on a fielder's choice, but never scored. Frankie Reed walked the leadoff hitter in the eighth and watched him slowly advance to third before whiffing Humphries to strand him.
All of these occurences led to Brad Mincey (0-3) coming on in the ninth with the Wingnuts still holding on to a 3-2 advantage. The right-hander walked David Bergin, the first batter he faced. He then recorded an out on Stock's line drive to Joash Brodin in left field. Wing lifted a triple out of the reach of a diving attempt by Trevor Jones to tie the score and put the winning run 90 feet away. With the infield drawn in, Perucki came up with the game-winner.
Becomo went 7.0 innings and allowed only two runs, one earned, on six hits. He also struck out five. Bougher lasted through 8.0 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits while also fanning five. Tyler Pearson (1-1) worked a scoreless top of the ninth to earn the win.
Game two of the series takes place at the "The Birdcage" on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Scott Richmond (0-1) will work for Wichita against RHP Jeremy Strawn (2-4) of Sioux Falls. 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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