Wingnuts Win Fifth Straight Division Title with Record-Breaking Performance
September 6, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS - The Wichita Wingnuts were determined not to let another opportunity to win the South Division title slip by on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Grand Prairie AirHogs, the team with the most losses in American Association history, they were all that was standing in the way. Wichita unleashed an offensive barrage on the AirHogs to set the franchise record for runs in a game and largest margin of victory in a 21-1 thrashing of their division rival. By clinching a playoff berth, the Wingnuts became the first team in American Association history to reach the postseason for a sixth time.
The Wingnuts (58-40) did the lion's share of their damage between the second and fifth innings. In the four-frame stretch, the team scored a combined 20 runs on 14 hits. Ten hitters went to the plate in the second inning and half of them crossed home plate. Leo Vargas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to start the scoring and the next batter, Taylor Smart, lofted a triple over the head of Justin Byrd in center to clear the bases. Nick Van Stratten made the lead 5-0 with his opposite field single.
The third inning saw the Wingnuts load the bases against Grand Prairie starter Blake Oliver (6-11) on two hits, two fielder's choices, and a walk. Van Stratten scored two with another single and this time it was Brent Clevlen who cleared the bases with an extra-base hit. His double increased the advantage to 10-0. Oliver left during the frame having allowed 10 runs on eight hits in 2.2 innings.
The success continued against reliever Colin Allen in the fourth. T.J. Mittelstaedt opened the stanza with his team-leading 16th home run of the year. With the bases loaded on two hits and a walk, Smart cashed in with a fielder's choice groundout to third that produced a run. A hit by pitch re-loaded the bases for Taylor Oldham and the second baseman lined a sharp two-RBI double into the gap in right center to extend the cushion to 14-0. Before the inning came to an end, Andy LaRoche joined the party with a run-producing fielder's choice of his own.
Allen was still throwing in the fifth inning when a hit by pitch, walk, and unsuccessful fielder's choice loaded the bases once more. Van Stratten increased his RBI total to six on the night, one shy of the team's single-game record, with a bases clearing triple to the power alley. Oldham followed with a fielder's choice that scored the runner from third. Clevlen then crushed a hanging pitch out of the park for his first home run with the team to open the 20 run lead. Allen also allowed ten runs over 2.0 innings on the hill.
Tim Brown (10-2) held the AirHogs in check for 6.0 shutout innings in his final appearance of the regular season. He scattered six hits and threw 64 of is 93 pitches for strikes. Grand Prairie (28-70) scored their only run on a Victor Diaz double in the seventh off of Alex Sogard who relieved Brown. A single by LaRoche in the bottom of the seventh scored Smart to push the lead back to 20. Smart equaled the Wingnuts single-game record for runs scored by crossing the plate five different times.
The 21 runs were the most scored by the Wingnuts in a single-game. It edged the previous high of 20 set on June 24, 2013 against Laredo. The previous high for margin of victory in a game had been 17, which was accomplished twice in the 2011 season. Grand Prairie has now lost a league record 15 consecutive games.
The win allowed the Nuts to clinch their fifth straight division title and the sixth in the eight years of the team's existence. The club will face either Laredo or Joplin in the Divisional Round of the playoffs beginning on Wednesday. The first home game will be held on Saturday, September 12th.
The regular season's penultimate game will begin on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. with RHP Jason Van Skike (7-7) facing off against Grand Prairie RHP Zachary Dando (4-8). 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.
American Association Stories from September 6, 2015
- Thunder Rolls as 'Hawks Walk-Off 5-4 vs. Amarillo - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Birds Blow Late Lead in 6-4 Loss to Blasters on Sunday Night - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Blasters Level Series in Sioux Falls, Playoff Hopes End - Joplin Blasters
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- Double Win Sunday for Goldeyes - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Saints Get Second Walk-Off in Three Days, Phillips Wins It with Single in Ninth 3-2 - St. Paul Saints
- The RailCats Shut out Kansas City in a Complete Effort - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Fish Walk Off, Then Fan 11 to Take 2 - Lincoln Saltdogs
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- Early Runs Allow AirHogs to Snap Skid - Wichita Wingnuts
- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- 'Hawks Steal Amarillo's Thunder with 2-1 Win - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Goldeyes Force Extras, But Suspended by Rain - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Wingnuts Win Fifth Straight Division Title with Record-Breaking Performance - Wichita Wingnuts
- Saints Have Seven Game Win Streak Snapped - St. Paul Saints
- Blasters Playoff Hopes Dwindle in Loss at Sioux Falls - Joplin Blasters
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