Wichita Wind Surge extend winning streak, climb Texas League standings with comeback win
An August winning streak has resurrected the playoff chances for the Wichita Wind Surge to keep their postseason streak alive.
Wichita (50-60) has the worst overall record in the Texas League, thanks to a slow start to the season, but the Wind Surge are riding a five-game winning streak and have won 11 of 15 games this month to essentially pull even with Northwest Arkansas for the second-half lead in the North division entering the final month of the season.
The Wind Surge continued their hot streak at Riverfront Stadium on Thursday night, rallying from a three-run deficit in the ninth inning to win in walk-off fashion, 7-6 in extras. It was the first time in 48 tries this season Wichita has won when trailing after eight innings.
After finishing dead-last in the Texas League with a 28-40 record during the first-half of the season, the Wind Surge gave little hope for a turnaround with an 11-16 record in second-half play entering August.
But when the calendar flipped the page, so did the team. The Wind Surge won back-to-back road series at Tulsa and Northwest Arkansas before returning home this week, where the team has won its first three games of the series with Springfield. The ascent by Wichita (22-20) has left the team half a game back in the second-half standings to Northwest Arkansas (22-19) with 27 games left.
The Wind Surge have played for the league championship in their first two years of existence, losing in the finals both times. Wichita won the North division of Double-A in the 2021 regular season and the second half of last season in the Texas League North division to qualify.
Winners from the first and second half of the season in both Texas League divisions advance to the four-team playoffs. Arkansas claimed the first-half title in the North division this season.
On Thursday, Wichita erased a 6-3 deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning in dramatic fashion. The comeback began when Aaron Sabato doubled on a line drive to left field to plate Alerick Soularie and David Banuelos, then was completed when Dalton Shuffield delivered a two-out RBI single to tie the game. Wichita’s win probability increased by 40.3% on Shuffield’s hit, according to MILB.com.
Wichita had a chance to win it with the bases loaded, but Seth Gray grounded out in the infield to end the threat.
Wichita reliever Miguel Rodriguez shut down Springfield (54-57) in the top of the 10th inning, striking out batters for the final two outs to blank the Cardinals.
Tanner Schobel, an intriguing, 22-year-old middle infield prospect for the Minnesota Twins, played the role of the hero, driving a single to the outfield to score Victor Scott II as the winning run.
This story was originally published August 18, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
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