BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle-
Saturday's loss to El Paso was the Wingnuts' most devastating defeat of the season, since it left in peril Wichita's chances to win the American Association North Division. Sunday, when the Diablos defeated Wichita 5-2 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, the Wingnuts reached their low point. Bad baserunning and mental mistakes were prevalent and perhaps only overshadowed by Wichita's inability to deliver in the clutch.
The Wingnuts fell to 4 ½ games behind first-place Sioux Falls with five to play in the first half. Wichita has lost six of its last eight games and dropped its first home series of the season.
"Just an awful, awful day at the ballpark. Hopefully it doesn't get any worse than this," Wingnuts manager Kash Beauchamp said. "Run ourselves out of innings, have to take a guy out of the game for not hustling and it all comes back to haunt us."
Wichita's mistakes started early, when Blake Gailen attempted a two-strike bunt that rolled foul down the first-base line. The Wingnuts made two key outs on the bases and left 10 runners on base, getting little to show for their 13 hits.
The Diablos provided the difference with one swing, a three-run home run by Bryon Smith in the fourth inning off Wichita starter Justin Young. The Wingnuts intentionally walked Matthew Kent, putting runners on first and second to face Smith with one out.
Read the rest of the stort HERE.
