The Texas AirHogs were cruising through Thursday night’s game, holding a comfortable 5-1 lead through the first five innings of the ballgame. However, when Michael Freeman came out of the game, this gave the opportunity to the Wichita Wingnuts to strike, and that is exactly what they did, scoring six runs in the sixth, to take their first lead of the ballgame, then closing it out for the 7-6 victory. Brent Clevlen had the big hit in the sixth, a three-run double that gave his team the lead, and Seth Harvey closed out his seventh save of the year.

Jordan Cooper started for Wichita, and he found himself in trouble in the top of the first inning. Trevor Sealey and Casio Grider started the game with back-to-back singles that put runners at the corners with no one out. Grider then stole second base before Levi Scott hit a ball hard that Christian Stringer was able to knock down, but not throw the runner out. That scored Sealey. Scott was then thrown out trying to steal second base before Denis Phipps followed by hitting his third home run of the season to make it 3-0.

In the top of the second, the long ball would give Texas a four-run lead. After Cooper struck out the first batter of the inning, Charley Thurber drilled a 1-0 pitch for his first home run of the season.

In the fourth, both teams would score a run. Beamer Weems, who was Tuesday night’s hero for the AirHogs, led off the inning with his third home run of the season. In the bottom half of the inning, Matt Chavez walked to start the frame, and moved to third on a wild pickoff attempt by Freeman. Martin Medina followed with the ground out that scored Chavez and the score was 5-1.

Texas looked like they were in complete control of this game but, in the sixth, the game turned drastically. T.J. Mittelstaedt and Chavez started off the inning with back to back singles. Jared Mortensen, who had relieved in the fifth, came out and Josh Blanco took over the hill. He gave up a base hit to Medina before striking out Brennen Salgado for the first out of the inning. That brought Richard Prigatano to the plate, who lined a single into left field that brought Mittelstaedt home. Leo Vargas then grounded a single up the middle that brought home Chavez and, two batters later, Christian Stringer would make this a one run game when he beat out an infield single to score Medina. With Wichita trailing by one, Brent Clevlen, who was the ninth batter of the inning, drilled the double to the wall in center. That cleared the bases, putting the Wingnuts ahead 7-5.

Texas would close the gap, making a one run game in the top of the eighth. With James Campbell on the hill, he struck out Weems to begin the inning, but then gave up Thurber’s second home run of the game to make it 7-6.

Seth Harvey came on in the top of the ninth looking to close out the game for Wichita. He would give up a two out walk to Phipps, but then struck out Jake Taylor before getting a ground out to end the game. That was his seventh save season.

Jesse Pratt (1-0) earn the victory, tossing 2.2-innings of scoreless relief. Brent Clevlen finished the evening 2-4 with 3-RBI. Matt Chavez scored 2-runs. Charley Thurber led the Texas AirHogs offense, going 3-4 with 2-runs and 2-RBI. Levi Scott has 3-hits and drove in a run.

The Wichita Wingnuts now head to Texas to begin a three-game series with the Cleburne Railroaders. First pitch is scheduled for 7:06.

Boxscore

Featured Image by Ed Bailey

By Robert Pannier