Wingnuts

The Wichita Wingnuts beat the Lincoln Saltdogs 6-4 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Friday night. Ryan Hinson tossed six and one-third shutout innings to earn the win, while Josh Dew notched his 22nd save in a Wingnuts' uniform to become the franchise's all-time leader. Both Hinson and Lincoln starter Tommy Palica pitched well early, and kept the game scoreless through three innings. In the fourth, Wichita used two singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs.  David Peralta broke the deadlock with a groundball single through the left side that scored John Rodriguez and C.J. Ziegler.

The Wichita Wingnuts announced several transactions on Tuesday, including the acquisition of shortstop Jimmy Mojica, outfielder Mitch Einertson, and right-handed pitcher Geivy Garcia. Mojica (pronounced moh-HEE-kuh) comes to the Wingnuts from the Kansas City T-Bones in exchange for second baseman Jose Duran.  Mojica is currently hitting .303 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 82 games.  The 27-year old Mojica has swiped 20 bases and ranks tied for fifth in the American Association with 72 runs scored.  Mojica is expected to play second base for the Wingnuts.

The Wichita Wingnuts beat the Kansas City T-Bones 6-5 at Community America Ballpark on Friday night. Trailing 5-3 in the top of the ninth inning, Taylor Freeman cracked an opposite field, three-run home run off T-Bones' closer Jacob Wiley. Mitch Einertson drew a four-pitch walk to lead off the inning and took third base two batters later on David Peralta's single up the middle. Matt Nevarez pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to earn his first save of the year.

Ryan Khoury will be back in the middle of the Wingnuts' defense in 2013.  The standout shortstop re-signed with the club Monday afternoon.  Khoury hit .256 last season, cracking 18 doubles and four home runs.  He also set a single-season franchise record with 38 stolen bases.  He finished third overall in the league in stolen bases. Khoury is the first player officially signed by the 'Nuts in this offseason.  Wichita starts the 2013 season at home on May 16th against the Kansas City T-Bones.

The Wichita Wingnuts acquired third baseman Greg Porter from the Grand Prairie AirHogs on Monday in exchange for second baseman Jairo Perez. Porter is currently hitting .262 with seven home runs and 33 RBI in 66 games played. Since June 7th, Porter is hitting .295 (60 for 203) with 29 runs scored, seven doubles, six home runs, and 29 RBI during a span of 48 games. A 12-year veteran of professional baseball, Porter returns to the Wingnuts after spending the majority of the last three seasons with the AirHogs.

The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Laredo Lemurs 8-2 in Game Three of the American Association Division Series at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Friday night. The Wingnuts sweep the best-of-five series 3-0 and advance to the American Association Championship Series against the Winnipeg Goldeyes beginning Tuesday night at Shaw Park.  It is the Wingnuts' first postseason series win in franchise history. Wichita scored four runs in the bottom of the third to overcome an early 1-0 deficit.  Steve Stanley drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a single to center from Ryan Khoury.  Jake Kahaulelio followed with a soft groundball to third base.  Khoury beat John Allen's force attempt at second while Kahaulelio beat Anthony Scelfo's relay to first to load the bases with no outs.  John Rodriguez drove in the tying run with a groundball to first base.  Javier Brito gloved the ball and threw home for the force, but Stanley slid in just safe with the tying run.  C.J. Ziegler drew a bases loaded walk to give Wichita a 2-1 lead.  Two batters later, David Peralta grounded a single through the right side that made it 4-1. After working out of a first-inning jam, Derek Blacksher took control of the game through the middle innings.  Blacksher retired the leadoff hitter from the second through the seventh, and had a stretch of nine consecutive batters retired in a row.  Blacksher allowed two earned runs on seven hits to earn the win.  Blacksher...

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...

The Wichita Wingnuts (32-18) lost 3-2 to the Amarillo Sox (28-23) at Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium on Tuesday night. Wichita mounted a late comeback that ultimately fell one run short, with Amarillo's bullpen stranding the tying run in scoring position in both the eigth and ninth innings. Trailing 3-0 in the top of the sixth, Jared McDonald reached on an error by second baseman Jake Opitz. Two batters later, Ryan Khoury tripled into the right field corner to put the Wingnuts on the board.

John Rodriguez played two seasons (2005-06) in the Major Leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals, helping the Redbirds win back-to-back National League Central Division titles, as well as the 2006 World Series championship.  The veteran outfielder batted .298 with seven home runs and 43 RBI in 332 at bats during his time in the Majors. Last season, Rodriguez hit .313 with 18 home runs and 81 RBI in just 82 games for the Atlantic League's Long Island Ducks.  A left-handed hitter and fielder, Rodriguez added 74 runs scored, 16 doubles, two triples, and walked more times (43)

The Wichita Wingnuts (43-30) defeated the Sioux Falls Pheasants (34-39) at Sioux Falls Stadium on Saturday night. The Wingnuts went ahead for good with a four-run top of the fifth inning that gave them a 7-3 lead.  Mike Conroy doubled down the right field line with one out and scored on a groundball single to right from John Rodriguez.  Mark Wagner followed with a single to left while Greg Porter reached on an error by first baseman Jared...