The Wichita Wingnuts were hit hard the last two nights by the Laredo Lemurs, but Thursday night they brought the heavy lumber, pounding out 19-hits to win 14-5. Zack Cox drove in five of those runs and T.J. Mittelstaedt plated four in the victory, backing Charlie Leesman’s first win of the year.

It did not get off to a great start for the Wingnuts. Abel Nieves walked with one out in the top of the first, stole second and moved to third when the throw was over the head of the second baseman. A single by Drew Martinez brought Nieves home and, after he stole second base, Martinez scored on a single by Denis Phipps. That made it 2-0.

The Wingnuts loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, but Laredo starter Troy Marks struck out Richard Prigatano to end the inning. That would keep the score at 2-0, which would be the score until the bottom of the second when Wichita would plate four and take the lead.

Harrison Kain got it going with a single. Two batters later Leo Vargas singled and Kain scored when Christian Stringer delivered the third hit of the inning. Next up was Cox, who drilled one over the left field wall for a three-run homerun, his second of the season. That gave the Wingnuts their first lead since Game 2 of this series.

It would stay that way until a three-run homer extended Wichita’s lead to five. Vargas singled to get the fourth inning started and moved to second on a wild pitch. Cox’s single moved him to third, before Brent Clevlen popped out. That made it first and third with two outs, and the team counting on T.J. Mittelstaedt for the big hit. He delivered a huge one, drilling a ball that hooked around the right field pole for a three-run homer, his third of the season.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Wichita Wingnuts began to blow this game open. Prigatano singled to start the inning and moved to second on a walk to Kain. Both would then move up on the double steal and Vargas drove in both with his third hit of the game.

It was a career night for Vargas. The Wingnuts shortstop finished 4-5 with 3-runs scored and 2-RBI. He also made several outstanding plays in the field.

In the top of the sixth the Laredo Lemurs got one of those runs back. Leesman retired the first two hitters of the inning, but Travis Denker homered, his sixth of the year, to make it 9-3. Denker would homer later in the game as well.

A run in the top of the seventh made it a five-run game again, but the Wingnuts would plate five in the bottom half of the inning to leave no doubt. A single by Prigatano got the inning started. He stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Kain. Cox’s two-run double scored Stringer and Vargas. A Clevlen double brought home Cox, and Mittelstaedt followed with a double that brought home Clevlen.

Every Wichita Wingnuts player but two had at least two hits in the game. Besides Vargas’ huge game, Cox finished 3-5 with 3-runs and 5-RBI. Mittelstaedt went 4-5 with a run and 4-RBI.

Leesman (1-1) struggled in the first but really bounced back to give the Wingnuts an outstanding start. The left-hander allowed 4-hits, 2-walks, and 3-earned runs in 6-innings. He fanned 2 Laredo batters.

The Lemurs head home to begin a three-game series with the St. Paul Saints. Wichita welcomes the Gary Southshore RailCats. Jon Link (1-2) takes the hill for the Wingnuts. Game time is 6:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier