The Wichita Wingnuts dropped their ninth straight game Thursday night, as Dylan Mouzakes dominated his opponents for six innings in leading the Cleburne Railroaders to a 4-2 victory. Derrick Pyles continues his hot start since joining Cleburne, rapping out three hits, and Pichi Balet drove in two in the Railroaders victory.

After Mouzakes retired the Wingnuts in the top of the first, Cleburne added two in the bottom half of the ending against Wichita starter Ryan Kussmaul. Mitch Glasser led off with a base hit and moved to second on a single by Maikol Gonzales. Derrick Pyles followed with a base hit that scored Glasser and the Railroaders were up 1-0.  Pichi Balet was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and last night’s hero, Geraldo Valentin, hit into a double play, scoring Gonzalez to extend the lead to two.

From there, both starters looked brilliant over the next three innings, keeping this a two-run ballgame. Wichita seemed to have no answers for the Cleburne starter, but they would finally get on the board in the top of the fifth. Martin Medina and Zac Fisher lend off the inning with back-to-back singles. Brennen Salgado followed with a base head of his own, scoring Medina to make it 2-1. The Wingnuts had their opportunity to at least tie the game, but Mouzakes struck out Leo Vargas before getting Richard Prigatano to hit into a double-play to end the threat.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Cleburne Railroaders would add two more runs to extend their lead to three. Gonzalez walked to start the inning and moved to third on a double by Pyles. That brought Balet to the plate, who lined a base hit up the middle, scoring both runners to make it 4-1.

Dylan Mouzakes (4-5) came out after 6-innings, allowing 7-hits, a run and walk, while striking out 5. He would earn the victory, snapping a two-game losing streak.

Will Mathis came on in the seventh and maintained the three-run lead, but Wichita would reduce the deficit to two in the top of the eighth. Mathis retired the first two batters of the inning, but T.J. Mittelstaedt kept the inning alive with a base hit. Carlos Misell came on and gave up a hit to Matt Chavez. That put runners at first and second with two down. Medina was the next batter, and quickly fell behind 0-2, but he came up clutch, delivering a base hit into left that scored Mittelstaedt to make the score 4-2.

In the ninth, Winston Abreu came on for Cleburne looking to close out the game. He would issue a one-out walk but retired the final two batters, striking out Brent Clevlen to end the game. That was his 14th save the season.

Derrick Pyles finished the game 3-4 with a run and an RBI for Cleburne. Maikol Gonzaelz was 1-2 with 2-runs scored and 2-walks. Pichi Balet had 2-RBI. The Wichita offense was led by Martin Medina, who was 2-4 with a run and RBI, and T.J. Mittelstaedt, who finished 2-3 with a run and a walk.

The loss extended the Wingnuts losing streak to nine. That is drop their lead over Cleburne in the South Division to 11-games.

Game 3 of this four-game set is tomorrow. Eddie Medina (6-3, 2.98) will go for Wichita looking to stop the slide. Patrick Mincey (6-5, 2.87) goes for Cleburne. First pitch is scheduled for 7:06.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier