Mittelstaedt’s walk-off HR lifts Wingnuts

T.J. Mittelstaedt took Monday’s result out of the umpires hands and Will Rankin’s pitch out of Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Two innings after being called out on a close play at first that hampered a Wingnuts rally, Mittelstaedt drove Rankin’s fastball out to center field for a 10^th-inning home run that gave Wichita a 5-3 win over Sioux Falls.

The Wingnuts tied the score with a run in the bottom of the ninth, then completed a workmanlike hitting effort with one of the game’s most glamorous plays. Mittelstaedt’s home run nicked the bottom of the batter’s eye in center, just beyond the reach of Jake Luce.

“I faced (Rankin on Sunday) and I hit a ball that I thought might do that,” Mittelstaedt said. “Today I definitely hit that ball better. The batter’s eye must have knocked some of the wind down to let it keep going. I just hoped (Luce) didn’t catch it.”

Before the 10^th, the Wingnuts didn’t have an RBI hit, scoring on a fielder’s choice, a double play and a groundout in the ninth on which Joash Brodin raced home even though Sioux Falls’ infielders played near the grass.

The Wingnuts may have wanted more after getting their leadoff batter on base in all three run-scoring innings in regulation, but their runs were a result of productive, if not flashy, situational hitting.

Contact was the only necessity in many of Wichita’s RBI situations, and it was easily accomplished by a team with the fifth-fewest strikeouts in the American Association. The Wingnuts focused on playing within their means, advancing runners one base at a time and using speed and awareness to create RBI chances.

“It’s anticipating, just being ready,” Wingnuts manager Kevin Hooper said. “…We try to just prepare them. Let them relax and let them watch what’s going on, but be prepared, don’t ever get caught off-guard. Right there, (Brodin) got a great jump and we ended up scoring the tying run.”

The Wingnuts were 90 feet from scoring that run after Mittelstaedt moved David Espinosa to third base on a groundout in the eighth. The throw to Sioux Falls first baseman David Bergin was low, and umpire Art Thigpen ruled that Bergin scooped it before Mittelstaedt reached the base.

Hooper immediately argued the play and continued his protest between innings. By then, Wichita had failed to plate Espinosa, who stayed at third after two more groundouts.

“Hoop is very mellow,” Mittelstaedt said. “He’s not going to argue a play he doesn’t believe was incorrectly called. If he’s going over there, there’s going to be a reason. That’s why I didn’t say anything to (Thigpen). Hoop’s got it. I don’t need to worry about it, I can just go back to the dugout.”

Mittelstaedt barely made it back to the dugout following his homerun, as he arrived without his jersey. As soon as he wasn’t looking, two teammates dumped a water jug over Mittelstaedt’s head to prolong the celebration.

The Wingnuts’ rally prevented Omar Bencom’s first loss. Bencomo allowed three runs through the fourth inning but excelled otherwise, striking out nine through eight innings.

A deep pitching staff often renders high-output scoring unnecessary. The Wingnuts are fine with station-to-station baseball, a cause championed by Mittelstaedt even following a more enchanting accomplishment.

“I really think it’s just us doing less,” Mittelstaedt said. “Guys want to drive a guy in from second, and we don’t necessarily need to. If you try to hit a groundball, it might roll through. So you never know. I think we’re starting to pull back on the offensive side and not try to hit a triple or a double every single time. You can put five singles together and still have a really good inning.”

This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 11:04 PM with the headline "Mittelstaedt’s walk-off HR lifts Wingnuts."