LINCOLN, NE- The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs 12-2 at Haymarket Park on Monday night.
Greg Porter, named the American Association Batter of the Week earlier this afternoon, went 4 for 5 with three RBIs, while Wichita hit three home runs and pounded out 15 hits. Eight of Wichita's starters had at least one hit and scored at least one run.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the top of the fifth, Wichita exploded for eight runs to take the lead for the rest of the night. Brenan Herrer opened the inning hitting a line drive home run over the left field fence to tie the game. After walks to Josh Horn and Patrick Brooks, Greg Porter doubled both of them home against reliever Darryl Arreola. Dustan Mohr came up next and clocked a two-run home run to deep left-center field to make it 5-1. The inning continued with the Wingnuts loading the bases with two out before Josh Horn doubled into right-center field to clear the bases. Horn was thrown at third trying to stretch it into a triple, but the Wingnuts left the inning with an 8-1 lead.
In the seventh, Porter singled home Patrick Brooks, who led off the inning with a double, to make it 9-1. Kelly Hunt crushed a two-run home run to right field in the top of the eighth to extend the Wingnuts' lead to 11-1. It was Hunt's league leading 17th home run of the season. After Lincoln scored in the bottom of the eighth, Mohr singled home Wichita's 12th run on a ground ball up the middle.
Brad Davis allowed one run on six hits in five innings to earn the win and improve to 8-5. Davis has won four consecutive starts. Diego Soto worked two scorless innings in the sixth and seventh, while Joe D'Alessandro finished off the win, allowing one run over the final two frames.
The win evens the Wingnuts' second half record at 15-15 and moves them within 2.5 games of first place Lincoln.
The Wingnuts and Saltdogs continue their series on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. Righty Gabe Medina goes to the mound against Lincoln right-hander Tim Brown. All the action can be heard locally on 1410AM KGSO and worldwide at www.kgso.com The Wingnuts return home on Tuesday, August 18th when they host the Sioux City Explorers at 7:05 p.m. Meanwhile, the 75th annual NBC World Series continues at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium through August 15th. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-4625.
-Wingnuts-
