Wichita 7, Gary SouthShore 1 –Box
Wichita starter Jon Link went the distance Sunday afternoon in Gary, allowing just one unearned run across nine innings in a 7-1 Wingnuts win. Link (1-1, 4.28 ERA) scattered eight hits across nine innings, struck out four and did not allow a walk against the RailCats, who split the four-game series with Wichita.
2B Jake Kahaulelio led the Wingnuts offense, batting 5-for-5 with two doubles, three RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base. Kahaulelio drove in a run in the first, fourth and sixth inning.
DH Michael Hernandez had a successful day at the plate as well, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored. Hernandez’s two-out RBI double in the third inning, which gave the Wingnuts a 2-0 lead, proved to be the deciding push in Wichita’s winning effort. Wichita C Chris McMurray also drove in a run in the third inning, making it 3-0, on a two-out RBI double to left field.
Winnipeg 6, Lincoln 4 – Box
Winnipeg left-hander Chris Salamida held the Lincoln Saltdogs to two runs over seven innings, paving the way for a 6-4 Goldeyes’ win. Salamida allowed just four hits, struck out one and earned the win, completing a three-game series sweep of the Saltdogs. Closer Kyle Bellamy allowed a single in the ninth, but a game-ending, unassisted double play from 1B Josh Mazzola clinched Bellamy’s second save of 2014.
Winnipeg LF Ray Sadler tied the game at one with a solo home run in the top of the third inning, and 3B Ryan Pineda followed in the fourth inning with an RBI single to give the Goldeyes a 2-1 advantage. Lincoln 1B Ian Gac tied the game at two in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run — one of two solo shots Gac hit Sunday — and finished 3-for-4 at the plate.
Winnipeg’s two-out rally in the sixth inning helped the Goldeyes wrestle back the lead for good, with C Jordan Guida smacking a two-out, two-RBI double to put Winnipeg up 4-2.
Two Winnipeg insurance runs in the top of the eighth inning became crucial when Lincoln CF Jon Gaston belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut Winnipeg’s lead to 6-4, which held up as the final score.
Saltdogs’ starter Nick Green struck out nine, surrendering four runs — three earned — over six innings in the loss.
Laredo 2, Grand Prairie 2 (Suspended — Bottom 8th)
The game between the Laredo Lemurs and the Grand Prairie AirHogs was suspended due to rain in the bottom of the eighth inning with the teams tied at two. The two teams will complete the game on Sunday, August 3 at 5:05 p.m. in Grand Prairie.
