FORT WORTH, TX- The Wichita Wingnuts flel 2-1 to the Fort Worth Cats at LaGrave Field on Saturday night.
Gabe Medina and Joel Kirsten hooked up in a starting pitching duel that carried a scoreless tie into the sixth inning. Medina pitched eight innings, the longest outing of the year by a Wingnuts' starter, allowing two runs on just four hits and striking out nine in the complete game loss.
The Cats broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth, cashing in a leadoff walk to Cameron Blair. Medina retired Brian Fryer and Isa Garcia on fly balls to center field, but with two outs, Blair stole second and scored on an RBI single by Ryan Patterson to give Fort Worth a 1-0 lead. After a stolen base by Patterson, Pat O'Sullivan singled to right field to drive home the Cats' second run.
The Wingnuts cut the lead in half in the top of the seventh inning. Dustan Mohr ripped an off-speed pitch from Kirsten that landed just over the wall and just inside the left field foul pole for his fourth home run of the season and his second of the series.
In the top of the eighth, the Wingnuts got a leadoff single by Zach Goldberg to put the tying run on base. Josh Horn came up next and deadened a popup bunt in fair territory. However, as Horn was running to first base, he collided with Cats' reliever Alex Morales and was then called out on interference. Morales stayed in the game after a lengthy delay and allowed an infield single to Nick Blasi to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Morales came back to strike out Brenan Herrera and then left-handed reliever Taylor Parker came into the game and got Greg Porter on a groundball to first base.
Dustin Cameron worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save for the second straight night. Mohr had three hits in the game, including the home run, and is now five for six since returning to the lineup after missing two games due to an injury.
The Wingnuts finish their series against the Cats tomorrow night, sending right-hander Adam Cowart to the mound. The Cats throw lefty Ryan Riddle for the 6:05 p.m. game that can be heard locally on 1410AM KGSO and worldwide at www.kgso.com The Wingnuts return home on Friday, June 5th when they host the Lincoln Saltdogs at 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call the Wingnuts office at (316) 264-4625.
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