Wingnuts Clinch Central Division!

Photo Credit: Jancy Ireland Photography 

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts (55-39) swept a double header from the El Paso Diablos (44-49) at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Monday night by scores of 1-0 and 4-1.

Video Highlights

Postgame Comments From Kevin Hooper and Wingnuts Players

The Wingnuts clinched their third division title in four years, winning a 1-0 thriller in the opener.  With second and third and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Steve Stanley lined a single to center field to drive in Wilson Batista with the winning run.  Stanley was 3 for 3 in the game.

Josh Lowey earned the victory, throwing a complete game, two-hit shutout.  It was Lowey's 15th win of the season, setting a new American Association record.  Lowey walked two, struck out four, and allowed just one runner past second base.  It also marked Lowey's first career regular season complete game.  A two-out double from Mitch Einertson in the first, and a one-out single from Maikol Gonazalez in the sixth accounted for El Paso's only safties.

Reyes Dorado started for the Diablos and took a complete game loss.  Dorado allowed one earned run on six hits in six and two-thirds.  Dorado walked three and struck out four.

In the nightcap, the Wingunts overcame a 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the sixth.  Ryan Khoury led off with a single and stole second base.  The steal was Khoury's 34th of the year, tying Kevin Hooper for the Wingnuts' franchise single-season record.  Khoury took third on a John Rodriguez groundball and scored the tying run on a two-out wild pitch.  C.J. Ziegler followed with a solo home run to center field.  The Wingnuts completed a cycle in the inning when Greg Porter hit a ground rule double to center and scored on a triple to right-center by Jared McDonald.  McDonald scored the Wingunts' fourth run on an error by first baseman Jermy Acey.

James Hoyt worked a scoreless top of the seventh to earn his first save of the year.

Jared Simon started for the Wingnuts and allowed one earned run on two hits in three innings.  Simon's last start came on June 20th, 2007 while pitching for the Frontier League's Slippery Rock Sliders.  Ryan Hinson, James Baker, and Edgar Martinez each added a scoreless inning.  Martinez earned the win.

Ramon Garcia took a complete game loss in game two, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits in six innings.  Garcia walked one and struck out one.

The series continues Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.  Anthony Capra takes the mound for the Wingnuts.  Individual tickets can be purchased by calling (316) 755-SEAT, or by visiting www.selectaseat.com

For information on playoff tickets, call the Wingnuts' main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com

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