Wingnuts Shock Saltdogs

LINCOLN, NE- The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs 10-9 in 10 innings at Haymarket Park on Tuesday night.

The Wingnuts overcame a two-run deficit in the ninth and a seven-run deficit overall for the win.

Trailing 8-6 in the top of the ninth, Joseph Spiers and Jake Bradshaw hit back-to-back singles against Lincoln closer Chris Thompson.  Eric Williams laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out.  Ryan Patterson was next and hit a three-run home run to left field that put the Wingnuts in front for the first time in the game.

Lincoln tied it at 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth when Rafael Alvarez hit a solo home run to right-center off of Wingnuts' closer Justin Dowdy.  Dowdy however, retired the next three hitters in order to keep the game tied, setting up a Wingnuts' rally in the 10th.

Steve Pearson ripped a double off the glove of first baseman Juan Camacho to lead off the top of the 10th against reliever Tycen PoVey.  Spiers sacrificed Pearson to third and then Jake Bradshaw drove a sacrifice fly to center to give the Wingnuts a 10-9 lead.

Dowdy issued a four-pitch walk to Juan Richardson leading off the bottom of the 10th, but struck out Pat Trettel and Albenis Machado before getting Brandon Jones on a comebacker to the mound to secure the victory.

Lincoln jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings.  Gavin Dickey homered to right-center on the second pitch from starter Gabe Medina in the bottom of the first inning.  Later in the frame, Argelis Nunez hit a solo home run to left-center to make it 2-0.

A five-run second appeared to break the game open for the Saltdogs.  Gavin Dickey drew a bases loaded walk to force in Lincoln's third run.  The inning was capped off by a two-out, grand slam by Phil Hawke on a line drive that just cleared the right-center field fence.

The Wingnuts started coming back in the top of the third.  Pearson led off with a single against starter Chris Cullen and scored two batters later on an RBI double to right-center from Jake Bradshaw.  After Williams grounded out to second base, Patterson hit a two-out, RBI double to right-center that cut the lead to 7-2.

Michael Bell doubled to left-center to lead off the fourth.  Mario Delgado's groundout to second moved Bell to third while Jeff Christy's groundball up the middle scored Bell to make it 7-3 Lincoln.

Jorge Cortes singled to left against Cullen to lead off the top of the sixth and went to third on Bell's second double of the night, this one down the right field line.  Delado crushed a three-run home run into the right field bullpen to bring the Wingnuts within 7-6.  Lincoln added a run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double from Brandon Jones.

Medina allowed eight earned runs in 5.1 IP and struck out seven in a no-decision.  Cullen also took a no-decision, allowing six runs in six innings.  Dowdy earned the win while PoVey took the loss.

The series continues tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. with Luke Massetti taking on right-hander Jim Paduch.  All the action can be heard locally on Oldies 93.5 KWME and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Wingnuts return home on Friday, July 23rd when they host the St. Paul Saints.  For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.

-Wingnuts-