By MATT FULKS, tbonesbaseball.com
WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita's Anthony Capra lost his no-hit bid in the ninth inning Wednesday night, but the Wingnuts held on for a 2-0 win over Kansas City at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
Wichita got the scoring started in the sixth inning with two runs off Kansas City reliever Zach Fowler (0-1). David Amberson led off the inning with a double, and then stole third before Jake Kahaulelio singled to left, giving Wichita a 1-0 lead. Three batters later, newly-signed veteran Mike Hernandez reached on an RBI fielder’s choice that gave Wichita a 2-0 lead and 2-1 series win in the Kansas Turnpike Showdown.
The lone T-Bones hit came with one out and one on — via a walk — in the ninth inning, when Nick Giarraputo singled off Capra and moved Bryan Sabatella to second base.
Wichita manager Kevin Hooper brought in closer Matt Nevarez (4), who escaped a bases-loaded, two-out jam by striking out Byron Wiley for the third and final out.
Capra (2-0) allowed eight walks, including four leadoff walks, but managed to keep the T-Bones off the scoreboard. He finished with nine strikeouts.
Kansas City starter Andy Noga pitched three innings and allowed only two hits to go with five strikeouts.
The T-Bones (3-4) return to Community America Ballpark Thursday evening to start a four-game series with the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
