The Texas AirHogs had to be feeling pretty pessimistic about their chances Tuesday night after giving up two solo home runs in the first, especially after they had struggled against Ryan Kussmaul all night. However, Beamer Weems changed that with a three-run homer in the seventh, and Texas took the lead in the ninth as the Texas AirHogs completed the dramatic come-from-behing 4-3 victory over the Wichita Wingnuts.

The Wichita Wingnuts would jump out in front in the bottom of the first. After Ryan Kussmaul retired the side in the top of first, Harrison Kain led off the bottom half of the inning with his third home run of the season. It was his second straight game with a lead-off homer. Two batters later, Brent Clevlen turned on a 3-0 pitch from James Russell and drilled it for a solo homer, his third of the season.

In the sixth, Wichita extended their led to three. With one down, Martin Medina lined a ball off of the third baseman’s glove and into foul territory. He then ran hard, making an acrobatic slide to avoid the tag for a double. Two batters later, Brennen Salgado singled up the middle, scoring Medina to make it 3-0.

Ryan Kussmaul had been in complete control of this game early on. He allowed just two hits through the first five innings while striking out eight. He was dominating the AirHogs

However, in the seventh, Texas rallied to tie the game. Denis Phipps started out the inning with a double down the line in left. Two batters later Charlie Thurber walked bringing Beamer Weems to the plate. He took the third pitch that Kussmaul threw and barely cleared the wall in left field for his second home run of the season. That tied the score at three.

It would stay that way until the ninth when the Texas AirHogs took their first lead of the game. Weems doubled to start the frame against Seth Harvey and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Miller. Ryne Willard then lined a single to center that brought home Weems to make it 4-3.

In the bottom of the ninth, Luis De La Cruz came on looking to close the game out. He would hit Salgado with one out, but struck out Leo Vargas before getting Kain to ground out to end the game. That was De La Cruz’s sixth save of the season.

Beamer Weems finished the game 2-4 with 2-runs and 3-RBI. Ryne Willard had 2-hits and an RBI. Harrison Kain was 2-5 with a run and an RBI for Wichita and Brent Clevlen was 2-4 with a run and an RBI.

These two teams continue their four-game series tomorrow. Eddie Medina (3-1, 3.41) will start for Wichita against T.J. Bozeman (2-2, 3.04). Game time is 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier