SIOUX FALLS, SD- The Wichita Wingnuts had their six-game winning streak snapped in a 3-2 loss to the Sioux Falls Canaries at Sioux Falls Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
After allowing the opposition to score first in their previous four games, the Wingnuts pushed across two runs in the top of the first against Canaries' starter Travis Kane. Nick Blasi leadoff the game with an infield base hit up the middle. Two batters later, Dustan Mohr doubled off of the fence in left field. Left fielder Beau Torbert misplayed the ball, allowing Blasi to score from first base. Catcher Ken Lup was charged with a passed ball that allowed Mohr to reach third base. Then with two outs, Joe Muich singled through the hole on the left to make it 2-0.
Sioux Falls answered back in the bottom of the inning against Brad Davis. Tim Hutting singled with one out. Cory Harris was next and doubled off the top of the wall in left. Hutting scored on Beau Torbert's RBI groundout to cut the lead in half.
The Canaries took their first lead of the afternoon in the bottom of the third. After Michael Thompson and Patrick Brooks helped turn a double play, Torbert reached on an error by Thompson with two outs and no one on base. Reggie Taylor came up next and hit a line drive home run just over the short porch in right-center field making it 3-2 Canaries.
Davis went 6.2 IP allowing three runs, only one of which was earned, and did not walk a batter for a second consecutive start. Justin Young took over for Davis with two on and two out in the seventh, striking out Cory Harris to keep Wichita within one run. Davis is now 2-2 after the loss.
Facing setup man Patrick Lawler in the eighth, Brenan Herrera doubled with two outs to move the tying run into scoring position. Closer Kris Regas was called on by Sioux Falls and got Dustan Mohr to ground out back to the mound.
Wichita had hope in the ninth when shortstop Tim Hutting committed an error that allowed Kelly Hunt to reach first to leadoff the inning. Regas came back to strike out Joe Muich for the first out. Greg Porter came up next and hit a long drive to center field, but it was run down by Reggie Taylor for the second out. Porter had his hitting streak snapped at eight games. Josh Horn pinch hit for Steve Pearson and was struck out by Regas on a full count to end the game.
The Wingnuts play game three of their four-game series tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Gabe Medina goes to the mound for the Wingnuts. Sioux Falls is expected to throw righty Chris Weast. Wichita returns home on Friday, June 12th when they host the St. Paul Saints at 7:05 p.m. For tickets and more information, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-4625.
-Wingnuts-
