After falling to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in 12 on Monday night, the Wichita Wingnuts were not only looking to get back in the winning column, but needed a big outing from their starter and got both on Tuesday night. Tyler Kane pitched 7.2 outstanding innings to help lead the Wingnuts to an 8-3 victory. Tony Thomas homered on his birthday, giving him an American Association leading 13 this season.

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks would get an early lead. Tim Colwell led off the game by slapping a base hit up the middle for a single. He stole second before Maikol Gonzalez walked and both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice. A ground out brought Colwell home and the RedHawks quickly had a 1-0 lead.

In the second, the Wichita Wingnuts plated three to take the lead. Tony Thomas hit a 1-1 pitch for his 13th homer of the year to tie the score. John Nester followed by poking a single into right field and he moved to second on a base hit by Ryne Willard. Leo Vargas attempted to lay down a bunt. Trey McNutt fielded the ball but slipped and fell, allowing all three runners to be safe. Two batters later, Nick Rotola hit a sacrifice fly, bringing home Nester, and Willard came home on a base hit by Logan Watkins.

Fargo-Moorhead responded with a run in the top of the third to cut the deficit to one. With one down, Devan Ahart hit his sixth home run of the season to make it 3-2.

In the fourth, the Wingnuts would add to their lead. Vargas led off with a base hit and moved to third when Hunter Clanin followed with a broken bat double just over the head of the third baseman. A bloop single by Rotola brought home Vargas, and Clanin came home on a ground out to make it 5-2.

An inning later, the Wichita Wingnuts took a commanding lead. Thomas led up with a hard single up the middle and moved to third when Nester’s towering drive to left was lost in the lights and fell in for a double. Willard followed with a drive to the wall in right-center that fell in for a double. Both runners scored to extend the lead to 7-2. Reese Gregory came on and gave up a single to Vargas that scored Willard home to extend the lead to six.

After giving up the two early runs, Tyler Kane was in complete command of this game. The RedHawks would not get two runners on in the same inning until the eighth. That is when he gave up a single to start the inning, but induced a double-play. Steve Zimmerman drew a walk and that would be it for Kane (2-1). The right-hander went 7.2-innings, allowing 8-hits, 3-walks, and 2-earned runs. He struck out 2.

Austin Boyle came on and finished out the eighth and would return for the ninth. That is when Fargo-Moorhead would add a run. Chris Jacobs led off the inning by taking the first pitch from Boyle and ripping over the wall in left for his third homer of the year. The RedHawks would put two more on, but Boyle would get the final out on a fly ball to preserve the 8-3 victory.

Tony Thomas had quite a birthday, going 2-4, with 2-runs and an RBI. Leo Vargas had 3-hits and Ryne Willard was 2-4 with 2-runs, and 2-RBI. Tim Colwell continues his hot run, going 3-4 with a run. Colwell has hits in nine straight games and is 12 for his last 23.

These two teams will close out their series tomorrow.  First pitch is scheduled for 11:35.

Boxscore

Featured Image by Ed Bailey

By Robert Pannier