SIOUX FALLS, SD- The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Sioux Falls Canaries 7-3 on Wednesday night at Sioux Falls Stadium.
In the top of the second, Greg Porter drew a one-out walk against Canaries' emergency starter Chris Weast. After Weast struck out Steve Pearson, Michael Thompson doubled to straight-away center field to drive in Porter from first base with two outs, giving Wichita a 1-0 lead. Brenan Herrera drew a walk to put runners on first and second base. Nick Blasi came up next and hit a groundball that deflected off of the chest of second baseman Joe Anthonsen to score Thompson from second. The error put Wichita in front 2-0.
Steve Pearson homered over the right field fence on the first pitch of the top of the fourth inning, his first of the year. The longball sparked a rally for the Wingnuts. Hits by Thompson and Blasi helped put two on for Josh Horn who singled to short right field on an 0 and two pitch to score Brenan Herrera with the Wingnuts' fourth run of the game. Dustan Mohr was next and jumped on the first pitch, doubling to left-center field to score two more runs. The Wingnuts went on to load the bases, giving Pearson another at bat in the inning. The first baseman hit a high flyball to left-center that was eventually caught.
The Canaries got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, getting a two-out two-run home run from Reggie Taylor for a second straight game.
Gabe Medina tossed seven strong innings, allowing just the two earned runs on five hits. Medina struck out three and did not walk a batter. Medina has now won four of his last five starts.
The Wingnuts added to their lead in the top of the seventh. Greg Porter leadoff and drilled a home run on a high line drive that cleared a 16-foot fence in the deepest part of Sioux Falls Stadium more than 410 feet away.
The Canaries scored a run off of Ronnie Morales in the eighth inning on a two-out, RBI single from Cory Harris. Doug Hurn came on in relief with two on and two out and got Fraser Holmes to fly out to center field to retire the side. Hurn pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out two, and earned his second save of the season.
The Wingnuts finish their four-game series tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Adam Cowart goes to the mound for the Wingnuts. Sioux Falls counters with righty Ben Moore. 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-
