Brian Ragira Hits Game-Winning Homer to Give AirgHogs 5-4 Victory
The Wichita Wingnuts began their 18-game road trip on Tuesday, making Texas their first stop. After falling behind 4-1, the Wingnuts battled back to tie the score with two-runs in the top of the eighth. However, Brian Ragira put his team back on top with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to send the Texas AirHogs to the 5-4 victory. That spoiled a 3-RBI day by Martin Medina for Wichita.
The Wingnuts took the lead in the bottom of the second against Texas starter Tyler Bremer. T.J. Mittelstaedt walked to start the inning and moved to second on a base hit by Zac Fisher. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, and Mittelstaedt scored on a ground out by Martin Medina to make it 1-0.
Jordan Cooper was cruising through the first four-innings for Wichita, but the AirHogs would put up four in the fifth to take the lead. Beamer Weems beat out a ground ball for a base hit to start the inning, and he moved to second on an error trying to get him at first. A ground out moved him to third and he scored on a base hit by Trevor Sealey. With the score tied, Alvaro Rondon beat out a slow tapper to the right of Cooper and Sealey scored on a single by Casio Grider. Levi Scott extended the lead to two with a base that scored Rondon, and Grider came home on a ground out by Denis Phipps to make it 4-1.
The Wingnuts slowly chipped away at that lead. In the sixth, Christian Stringer walked to start the inning. Two batters later, Mittelstaedt walked to put two on with one down. Bremer came out and was replaced by Robert Tasin. He threw a wild pitch that moved both runners into scoring position, and Matt Chavez followed with a ground out that scored Stringer to make it 4-2.
Josh Blanco came on for Texas in the eighth, but he could not preserve the lead. Brent Clevlen and Mittelstaedt started the inning with back-to-back singles. Two batters later Fisher walked to load the bases, bringing Medina to the plate. He fell behind 0-2, then ripped a double that scored Clevlen and Mittelstaedt to tie the game.
It was a huge turnaround, but the Wichita enthusiasm would be short-lived. Chad Nading relieved for Wichita and retired the first batter of the inning, but Brian Ragira took a 2-1 pitch and ripped it for his second homer of the year to put Texas back on top.
In the ninth, Keury De La Cruz came on. He retired the Wingnuts in order for his 11th save of the season, striking out two. Josh Blanco (2-1) earned the victory.
T.J. Mittelstaedt was a perfect 2-2 with 2-walks and 2-runs scored for the Wingnuts. Martin Medina drove in 3. The AirHogs got RBI from five different players.
These two teams will meet again tomorrow. Tim Brown (1-0, 1.50) makes his second start for Wichita since returning from Europe. He will be opposed by Bill Waltrip (0-3, 4.05). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.
By Robert Pannier