Explorers take finale from Wingnuts

August 19, 2012

{WICHITA, Ks.} — The Wichita Wingnuts (50-37) lost 11-5 to the Sioux City Explorers (39-48) at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

After the Wingnuts took a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the second, Sioux City rallied for nine unanswered runs from the third through the sixth. In the top of the third, Mike Murphy led off with a single to center and advanced to second when Brandon Newton beat out a sacrifice attempt. Wally Backman Jr. sacrificed the runners one base, setting up a two-run triple to right field from Peter Barrows. Barrows scored the tying run on Jorge Delgado's groundout to shortstop.

Backman singled down the left field line leading off the fifth and went to third when Barrows doubled to right-center. Wingnuts' starter Ryan Hinson struck out Delgado before a Ray Serrano groundout and a Yusuke Inoguchi single to right gave the Explorers a 7-5 lead.

Sioux City broke the game open with a four-run top of the sixth. Adrian Martinez led off with a double to left. Martinez beat Hinson's throw to third base on Mike Murphy's sacrifice attempt to put runners on the corners with no outs. Brandon Newton lined a single to center to make it 8-5. Hinson retired Backman on a diving catch by Conroy in center field, and was relieved by James Baker. Barrows grounded out to third for the second out. Delgado then hit a three-run home run to left-center that provided the game's final margin.

Hinson took the loss, allowing 11 runs, nine earned, on 12 hits in five and one-third innings. Hinson struck out seven and did not allow a walk.

Richard Salazar earned the win for Sioux City, allowing five earned runs on nine hits in seven innings. Salazar walked three and struck out three.

Sioux City scored an unearned run in each of the first two innings before the Wingnuts scored five times in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded and no outs, Mike Conroy drove in Wilson Batista from third base on a groundout to first. Ryan Khoury tied the game with a line drive single to left that plated David Peralta. Jake Kahaulelio walked to reload the bases, which led to John Rodriguez's two-run single through the left side. C.J. Ziegler lifted a sacrifice fly to left for the Wingnuts' fifth run.

Nick Walters and Jared Simon each worked a scoreless inning of relief. Khoury had three hits for a second straight game. Eight of the Wingnuts' starters reached base at least once.

The Wingnuts travel to El Paso for a three-game series against the Diablos beginning Tuesday night at 8:05 p.m. Central Time.

The Wingnuts return home on Friday, August 24th when they host the Gary SouthShore RailCats at 7:05 p.m.

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