PENSACOLA, FL- The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Pensacola Pelicans 7-4 at Pelican Park on Thursday night.
Tied 3-3 in the top of the eigth, the Wingnuts scored four times to re-gain control of the game. Cesar Suarez reached first on an infield single to open the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch by reliever Seth Overbey. Jorge Delgado drove a double to right field that scored Suarez and gave the Wingnuts a 4-3 lead. Jeff Christy laid down a bunt to the left side of the infield that was thrown wild down the right field line by catcher Lou Palmisano. Delgado scored the Wingnuts' fifth run on the play and it allowed Christy to take second. Christy scored on Steve Pearson's RBI single up the middle. Pearson stole third and took third when Palmisano's throw went into center field. Two batters later, Jorge Cortes hit a sacrifice fly to center against new reliever Jason Franzblau that scored Pearson and made it 7-3.
The Wingnuts got off to a quick start when Joseph Spiers opened the game with a double to right-center against starter Bryan Rembisz. Cortes followed by ripping a double to straight-away center to give the Wingnuts a 1-0 lead. Cortes was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Marcos Rodriguez when he tried to score on Ryan Patterson's groundball single, but Michael Bell delivered a two-out single to left that scored Patterson who had moved to second on a wild pitch.
Carlos Rivera hit a line drive, opposite field home run to left in the top of the third to extend the lead to 3-0. Nick Singleton cruised through the first four innings before allowing two in the fifth on a bases loaded hit batsman to Carlos Leon and an RBI single by Francisco Leandro. With the bases loaded and nursing a one-run lead, Singleton induced a home-to-first double play from Javier Brito that ended the Pelicans' rally.
Lou Palmisano homered to left off of Jacob Wiley in the sixth to tie the game. Singleton took a no-decision, allowing two earned runs in five innings while striking out five. Singleton allowed four hits and walked three. Rembisz worked six, also taking a no-decision, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Dustin Pease earned the win in relief, throwing a scoreless seventh that included a pickoff of Leandro to end the inning. Overbey was charged with the loss.
The series continues Friday night at 6:45 p.m. The Wingnuts send Gabe Medina to the mound. All the action can be heard live on Oldies 93.5 KWME and worldwide at www.kleyam.com The Wingnuts next play at home on Saturday, August 14th when they host the Sioux Falls Pheasants. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.
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