EL PASO, TX- The Wichita Wingnuts snapped their four-game losing streak with a 7-6, 11-inning win over the El Paso Diablos on Tuesday night at Cohen Stadium.
With the game tied 5-5 in the top of the 11th, Joe Muich leadoff with a single to center that bounced by Kennard Bibbs and allowed Muich to take third. Muich then scored when Arnoldo Ponce's relay into third base bounced into the stands to give the Wingnuts a 6-5 lead. The Wingnuts went on to load the bases and scratched out an insurance run when Brenan Herrera hit into a double play.
The insurance run proved large as the Diablos scored two hitters into the bottom of the 11th on an RBI single by Gerardo Verastegui off of Tyler Rhoden. Verastegui was then doubled off of first base when Hector Bernal lined out to Josh Horn at second base. Rhoden then got leadoff hitter Kennard Bibbs to fly out to right field to end the game, earn his first save of the season, and preserve the Wingnuts' 7-6 victory. Amad Stephens earned the win, pitching two scoreless innings in the ninth and 10th.
The Diablos scored early for the second straight game, plating three runs in the bottom of the first. Jorge Alvarez and Roberto Mejia had RBI singles, while Adam Hale knocked in a run with an RBI groundout.
Wichita rallied to tie the game in the top of the third inning. After hits by Steve Pearson and Brenan Herrera, Josh Horn singled to right field with two outs to score Pearson and cut the lead to 3-1. Dustan Mohr came up next and hit a sharp groundball that got by shortstop Arnoldo Ponce into short left field. Herrera scored, followed by Horn who scored all the way from first as left fielder Tyler Johnson had to chase down the ball from deep left field. The two-run double by Mohr tied the game at 3-3.
Eddy Rodriguez hit a two-out double down the left field line in the bottom of the fourth to score Adam Hale, giving El Paso its second lead of the night at 4-3.
Michael Thompson answered back in the top of the fifth, leading off the frame with his first home run of the season. The long blast over the left field wall re-tied the game at 4-4.
The Wingnuts kept through the sixth thanks to two great defensive plays. In the fifth, Joe Muich threw out leadoff man Kennard Bibbs trying to steal second base for the first out of the inning. In the sixth, Adam Hale tried to stretch a double into a triple and was gunned down on a perfect relay throw to third by Horn.
The defense paid off the next inning when Greg Porter opened the frame with a double to right-center field. Steve Pearson sacrificed Porter to third. Thompson then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Porter and give the Wingnuts their first lead of the night at 5-4.
Derek Blacksher started for Wichita and took a no-decision. After giving up the three runs in the first, Blacksher kept Wichita in the game, giving them the chance to comeback. The right-hander tossed 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking two.
After Blacksher recorded the first out in the home seventh, Hector Bernal singled off of new pitcher Ronnie Morales. Kennard Bibbs was next and slapped a groundball down the third base line that appeared fourl, but was ruled fair and resulted in a single. Justin Young came out of the bullpen and struck out Ponce on three pitches for the second out. Jorge Alvarez was next and singled on the ground into right field on Young's first pitch to knot the game at 5-5.
The series resumes tomorrow night at 8:05 p.m. Wichita sends Brad Davis to the mound against the Diablos' Mark Michael. All the action can be heard locally on 1410AM KGSO and wordlwide 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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