Wingnuts fall to Laredo 5-4 in 12 innings

The Wingnuts believed they had the right man at the plate in a clutch situation against Laredo on Tuesday night, and Laredo thought it was the right guy, too.

Laredo walked Richard Prigatano to load the bases for Harrison Kain, the Wingnuts’ leading hitter. Strategy dictated the move – Laredo created a force at any base – and Kain proved Laredo right by grounding into a game-ending double play, sealing Laredo’s 4-3, 12-inning win at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

After Laredo scored in the top of the 12th, Brent Clevlen led off Wichita’s half with a double. Two intentional walks and a sacrifice bunt later, the Wingnuts sent up Kain and his .405 average.

“I’d want them all up in that situation,” Wingnuts manager Pete Rose said. “A 3-2 (count), he got a good ball and just hit it in the ground. It happens. It’s baseball.”

After Clevlen’s double, there was little drama until Kain batted several minutes later. Laredo had multiple mound visits and intentionally walked Mittelstaedt, the winning run, following Clevlen’s hit.

Dustin Geiger bunted the runners to second and third before Scott Garner intentionally walked Prigatano. Kain worked a full count before his groundball to shortstop started the double play.

“They’re playing for the double play (by walking Mittelstaedt), and it’s smart baseball,” Rose said. “(Laredo manager Pete Incaviglia) has played in the big leagues, he knows what he’s doing. That’s a smart play. They’re on the road, they’re going for the win.”

The Wingnuts (4-8) nearly won it in the top of the 11th, also following an intentional walk. Three batters after Harrison Kain’s single, after Kain reached third, Christian Stringer was walked as Laredo elected to pitch to Zack Cox with a force possible at second.

Laredo’s shift on the lefty-hitting Cox moved shortstop J.D. Pulfer closer to second base. Cox’s line drive was hit closer to Pulfer’s usual position, but Pulfer dove to his right and made a back-handed catch to end the inning.

Laredo’s top of the 12th started with Denis Phipps’ single, and he got to third on Drew Martinez’s hit to right. Matt Koch’s fielder’s choice scored Phipps to give Laredo the lead.

The Wingnuts led 3-1 before Laredo scored in the sixth against Wichita starter Tim Brown, then tied it in the seventh against Fabian Roman.

“When you look at it, they had two not-so-hard hit balls (in the 11^th),” Rose said. “It’s a game of inches, and they got the hits when they needed them. Nothing we can do about those.

“We battled, and we’ve been doing that since the beginning.”

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 9:34 AM with the headline "Wingnuts fall to Laredo 5-4 in 12 innings."