Matt Chavez Leads Wichita Comeback, Down Canaries 10-7
When there is a pitching matchup of Tyler Kane against Joe Bircher this would seem to be one of the best duels imaginable, but this turned into anything but a pitching affair, as the two teams combined for 17 runs and 27 hits and the Wichita Wingnuts downed the Sioux Falls Canaries, 10-7. This was a great comeback for Wichita, who trailed 7-5 after four, but scored the final five runs of the game for the victory. Every player in the Wingnuts lineup had at least one hit, led by Matt Chavez who was 4-5 with 2-runs and 3-RBI, including his 12th home run of the season.
The Wichita Wingnuts would jump out in front after scoring four-runs in the top of the first-inning. Bircher retired the first two batters of the inning, but then hit Brent Clevlen to keep the inning alive. T.J. Mittelstaedt walked and Matt Chavez followed by drilling his 12th homerun of the season. Next up was Martin Medina, who also homered, his fourth of the season.
Sioux Falls would get two runs in the bottom half of the inning thanks to back-to-back homers of their own. Brett Marr started the inning by hitting his second home run of the season. Next up was Jabari Henry, who clubbed his seventh homer of the season, a deep shot over the center field wall to make the score 4-2.
In the third, each team would score a run. Chavez led off the inning with a double and moved to third when Medina followed with a single. Two batters later, Richard Prigatano singled the other way, driving home Chavez to extend the lead back to three.
The Canaries grabbed a run in the bottom half of the inning and it was the combination of Marr and Henry that helped to produce the run. With one out, Marr doubled and Henry followed with a double of his own, making the score 5-3.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Sioux Falls would take the lead thanks to another home run by Henry. Aaron Gretz and Louis Mele got the inning started with back-to-back base hits. A ground out brought Gretz home and moved Mele to second. Dan Motl followed with a single that brought Mele home. Marr was finally retired by Kane, but Henry took the first pitch he saw and drilled it for his second homer of the game to give the Canaries their first lead 7-5.
The Wingnuts would get one of those runs right back in the top of the fifth. The Sioux Falls starter retired the first two batters of the inning, but Leo Vargas kept the inning alive with a base hit into right field. Next up was Harrison Kain, who lined a double into center, scoring Vargas and making this a one run game.
In the eighth, Wichita tied the score. Christian Stringer led off the inning and worked the count to 3-1 before drilling his second homerun of the season. That made it 2-2.
Wichita retook the lead in the top of the ninth. José Ortega came on to pitch for Sioux Falls, and was greeted by a double by Brennen Salgado. Prigatano followed with a single that brought home Salgado to put the Wingnuts back on top. Prigatano moved to second on the throw home, and then stole third before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Vargas. Mittelstaedt would drive home the final run of the game with a single that scored Stringer to make it 10-7.
Mike Devine (2-2) earn the victory with a scoreless eighth inning. Seth Harvey came on in the ninth and struck out two batters for his 10th save of the season. Matt Chavez finished the game 4-5 with 2-runs and 3-RBI. Martin Medina was 3-5 with a run and an RBI. Richard Prigatano had 2-hits and drove in 2. Jabari Henry led the Sioux Falls offense, going 3-4 with 2-runs and 4-RBI.
The Wichita Wingnuts will send Alex Boshers (6-2, 3.87) to the hill tomorrow against Bryce Morrow (1-3, 4.68). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30.
By Robert Pannier
