WICHITA, KS – Wichita took the field today in the form of one of two of their alternate identities as did San Antonio. The Tumba Vacas de Wichita and the San Antonio Flying Chanclas were locked in a back and forth stalemate that ultimately resulted in a Wichita loss ending the series 2-4. 

In a game that topped out at an official time of just two hours and twenty four minutes the starting pitcher for Wichita was Sawyer Gipson-Long. Gipson-Long got out of the first inning without allowing any hits or runs. 

The same was almost said for San Antonio’s starting pitcher Osvaldo Hernandez. Five total batters came up to the plate for Wichita. The first two, Matt Wallner and Austin Martin, got on base with a ground ball and a walk. Unfortunately for the Wind Surge that was all the success that would come for them as Edouard Julien, Cole Sturgeon, and Anthony Prato either flied out or went down swinging. 

For this game all of the runs scored came in the second inning. Gipson-Long was hoping to have a similar outing to the first inning, but that would not be the case. After a strikeout from Yorman Rodriguez, the five-hole hitter came to the plate. Tirso Ornelas got a lucky ground ball up the first base line to get on. Jorge Ona nearly ground out into a double play, but Wichita was only able to get the out at second which left Ona on first. With two outs this is where the scoring began for the Missions. A wild pitch to Connor Kaiser allowed for Ona to get to third and also for Kaiser to get to first. During Chandler Seagle’s turn in the box, Kaiser took off for second and the throw to second was no good which gave enough time for Ona to score from third. With Seagle still at the plate he hit a big fly ball to right field giving Kaiser the chance to make it home. That play gave San Antonio a two run lead over Wichita. A walk and a few well placed pitches later, Gipson-Long was able to get the strikeout to end the inning.

Hernandez faced some of the same struggles as Gipson-Long during the second inning. After a lead off walk to Kevin Merrell, Andrew Bechtold couldn’t make anything happen as he went down on a check swing that went just a little too far. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. couldn’t find a way on base either, earning Wichita their second out. Leobaldo Cabrera, who had struggled the night before, came through in a big way for the ‘Surge as a line drive to left-center field gave way for an RBI double, shrinking the lead to just one run. The run scored off of that play, however was the last run that scored for the rest of the game. Wallner also couldn’t find a way to get on base as a line drive to left field was the decided fate for him, it was also the third and final out for Wichita in the second inning. 

After the second inning no more runs were driven in and the final score of the game was 2-1. The rest of the game all blended together with hits sprinkled in throughout the three outs that eventually came for both sides. The most notable action after the second inning was the amount of pitchers each team used throughout the game. Wichita went through four pitchers. Those pitchers were Gipson-Long, Jordan Gore, Bryan Sammons, and Denny Bentley. San Antonio went through seven pitchers. Those pitchers were Hernandez, Kevin Kopps, Mason Fox, Lake Bachar, Henry Henry, Carlos Belen, and Alek Jacob. Fox was credited with the win and Jacob was credited with the save. Gipson-Long was served with the loss. Today’s game was the last chance for Wichita to tie the series and split 3-3. Unfortunately this did not happen and they dropped the series 4-2. Wichita’s next series will be away and against the Springfield Cardinals.

Box Score

By Kaden Warner