LINCOLN, NE- The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs 4-0 at Haymarket Park on Sunday night.
The Wingnuts finally broke through in the top of the seventh. With two outs and Michael Thompson on third base, Nick Blasi hit a groundball into the hole at shortstop and beat out the relay to first to drive in the game's first run.
Derek Blacksher fired six shutout innings, allowing five hits, walking three, and striking out five. It marked the ninth consecutive start that Blacksher worked at least six innings. Blacksher improved to 5-1 with the win.
The Wingnuts took a 4-1 lead in the top of the eighth. Dustan Mohr leadoff with a double into the left field corner. On the next pitch, Kelly Hunt singled up the middle to plate Mohr. Two batters later, Steve Pearson tripled to right-center, scoring Hunt from first. Pearson then scored on Michael Thompson's sacrifice fly to deep center.
Tyler Rhoden pitched scoreless baseball in the seventh and eighth innings. Justin Young pitched a scoreless ninth to finish off the Wingnuts' third team shutout win of the season.
Mohr's sixth inning double extended his hitting streak to 13 games in a row, tying him with Kevin Hooper for the second-longest in franchise history. Pearson's triple extended his streak to eight consecutive games.
Wichita returns home Monday night to open four-game series with the St. Paul Saints. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-4625.
-Wingnuts-
