Big Innings Beat Wingnuts

LINCOLN, NE- The Wichita Wingnuts lost 8-1 to the Lincoln Saltdogs on Wednesday night at Haymarket Park.

Lincoln scored four times with two outs in the bottom of the first against starter Luke Massetti, which proved plenty of offense for Jim Paduch who pitched seven shutout innings for the win.

Rafael Alvarez singled to left with one out in the bottom of the first.  After Massetti retired Phil Hawke on a flyball to left, Argelis Nunez punched a single through the right side to keep the inning alive.  Juan Camacho then hit a broken bat, pop fly single down the left field line that scored Alvarez and put the Saltdogs on the board.  Juan Richardson capped off inning with a three-run home run to left field.

With Lincoln leading 5-0 In the bottom of the fifth, Alvarez singled with one out, stole second and took third on a throwing error by Jeff Christy.  Hawke drew a walk to put runners on the corners, setting up a three-run home run to left by Nunez.

Nunez hit a sacrifice fly in the third after Hawke led off the inning with a triple accounting for the Saltdogs fifth run.  The Wingnuts scratched out their only run of the night in the top of the ninth on a throwing error by Brandon Jones.

Massetti took a complete game loss, allowing eight earned runs on nine hits in eight innings.  Massetti struck out seven and walked one.  Paduch struck out five and walked three during his seven scoreless frames.

The series finishes Thursday at 7:05 p.m.  Sean Teauge goes to the mound for the Wingnuts.  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-