The Wichita Wingnuts (16-8) reminded fans of one of Yogi Berra’s most famed sayings Wednesday night, proving that it is never over until it’s over. Trailing 1-0 through six innings, it was truly looking like it was over as the visitors seemed to have no answer against the Gary Southshore RailCats (13-12) Rene Solis, but six runs over the final three innings propelled the club to victory, moving them a game up on idle Joplin.

Through the first two innings Solis and Wingnuts starter Charlie Lowell kept their opponents off the scoreboard. Lowell retired the RailCats in order through the first two innings, but Gary took the lead in the bottom of the third. Jon Jones’ little slow-roller back to the mound gave the Wingnuts starter no play. After stealing second, Jones scored on a double by Zac Mitchell. Both hits came with two outs.

Sadly, through six innings those were the only two hits that Lowell allowed. He was losing 1-0, despite totally dominating the contest.

Solis was pitching well, keeping himself from making any mistakes that could allow Wichita to score. The Wingnuts had at least one runner on base in every inning from the second through the sixth, but the lefty continued to make big pitches when he needed to. This was especially true in the third when he allowed a one-out triple to Jayce Ray, but kept the ball in the infield to retire the next two hitters.

Kevin Osaki relieved in the sixth after Solis gave up a two-out walk, and remained in the game in the seventh. John Nester led off the top of the seventh with a single and Dustin Geiger followed with a walk.

That brought Shawn ONeill into relieve for Gary. The first pitch the lefty threw was hammered to the wall for a double by Luis Hernandez. Both runners came around to score and the Wichita Wingnuts were on top 2-1. A wild pitch moved Hernandez to third before Jayce Ray was retired.

Jessie Snodgrass came on in relief to retire the final two batters of the inning, but the damage was done. The momentum had quickly shifted to the Wichita Wingnuts, and this continued into the next inning.

In the top of the eighth Matt Padgett led off with a single and moved to third on a Joash Brodin double. T.J. Mittelstaedt was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Nester followed that with a hard single that scored Padgett to make the lead two. A wild pitch plated Brodin, and Alberto Gonzalez’s infield single with two outs scored Mittelstaedt to make it 5-1.

In the top of the ninth Mittelstaedt added one more insurance run. His fourth home run of the season came with two outs and made the score 6-1.

Lowell was taken out after seven innings. He had allowed just 3 hits and a walk, while striking out 7. The lefty moved his record to 3-1 with the victory. Solis allowed 3 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 3 in 5.2 innings pitched. The left-hander received a no-decision. Osaki (0-1) took the loss.

The Wingnuts got two outstanding innings of relief from Daniel Bennett and Brad Mincey to close out the game. Bennett loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but got a big pop out to end the threat. Mincey allowed a single before closing out the game.

Mittelstaedt broke an 0-11 skid, going 2-2 with a 2 runs, an RBI and 3 walks. Nester and Padgett also added two hits apiece. No RailCats hitter had more than one hit.

Boxscore Provided by the American Association

By Robert Pannier