SIOUX CITY, IA- The Wichita Wingnuts shutout the Sioux City Explorers 1-0 on Tuesday night at Lewis and Clark Park.
Wingnuts' starter Will Savage pitched a no-hitter while the Wingnuts improved to five games ahead of Sioux City in the North Division.
Savage threw 124 pitches while striking out seven to earn his second win of the year. Along the way, the right-hander walked four and hit a batter, and never allowed a runner past second base. In the bottom of the sixth, Savage issued a one-out walk to leadoff hitter Dustin Jones. With Jones running, Nick McCoola slapped a one-hopper down the third base line that Michael Thompson snared to throw out McCoola, prevent a game-tying double, and preserve the no-hitter.
Four of Savage's seven strikeouts came in his final two innings of work, including the last two batters that he faced. Savage struck out Justin Nelson for the third time in the game to finish the masterpiece.
Greg Porter hit a two-out solo home run on a deep flyball to left-center field in the top of the third to give the Wingnuts a 1-0 lead. In his first at bat, Porter singled to right-center to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, tying Kevin Hooper's club record set last year.
The no-hitter is the second in the four-year history of the Ameican Association and the first since August of 2006. Prior to Tuesday's game, no Wingnuts' starter had ever reached six full innings without allowing a hit.
The Wingnuts continue their series with Sioux City tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Derek Blacksher matches up against lefty Michael Campbell. All the action can be heard locally on 1410AM KGSO and worldwide at www.kgso.com The Wingnuts return home Friday, June 26th when they host the St. Paul Saints at 7:05 p.m The first 1,000 fans in attendance receive a Kevin Hooper bobblehead doll, courtesy of Big Fish Bail Bonds. The Wingnuts also host their weekly Friday postgame autographs, courtesy of KFDI. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-4625.
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