NUTS OUTLAST SALTDOGS TO CAPTURE FINALE
LINCOLN – The Wichita Wingnuts turned a hard fought, pitcher’s duel into a comfortable win with five runs in the ninth to beat the Lincoln Saltdogs 7-1 in front of 2,381 fans at Haymarket Park Sunday evening.
Leading 2-1 after eight innings, Wichita struck for five runs in the top of the ninth off Saltdogs reliever Garrett Sherrill – highlighted by back-to-back home runs from Ryan Patterson and Jorge Cortes.
Alex Maestri (1-2) pitched seven innings for Lincoln, allowing two runs on just three hits while striking out four and walking four to suffer the loss. Nick Singleton (5-0) allowed a leadoff home run to Blake Gailen in the bottom of the first but was dominant afterward, going eight innings and striking out eight to earn the victory.
The Saltdogs committed two errors but made some very impressive plays. Second baseman Joe Ramos robbed Cortes of an RBI single in the top of the fifth on a diving play to his left to keep the game tied at 1-1. Catcher Pat Trettel threw out two attempted base stealers on back-to-back plays to end the top of the seventh.
Gailen finished the night 3-for-4 with his first home run of the season. Jon Nelson went 2-for-4 with a double.