League-best offense has Wingnuts surging

Pete Rose Jr. didn’t need a six-game winning streak to affirm his beliefs in the Wingnuts’ potential.

In fact, Rose didn’t need much. The first-year manager’s beliefs are long-standing and survived a difficult start to the season that began to reverse last week.

The Wingnuts (12-12) won the first six games of a seven-game road trip before losing on Sunday, using a well-rounded offense that has become the hallmark of the team’s first month.

“You could have asked me last Sunday after we lost the series to Gary whether we were in the clear and everything is going to be OK and I would have told you yes,” Rose said. “It’s not really about wins and losses when you have the kind of kids that I have.

“It’s going to come together. Sometimes it takes more time than others, and if we get a late start then we get a late start. Those guys had a great road trip.”

The Wingnuts scored 56 runs in seven games on the road, reaching seven runs in the first six games before falling 7-3 on Sunday. The trip included consecutive wins by totals of 9-0, 10-2 and 13-9.

Leo Vargas, Richard Prigatano and Brent Clevlen contributed the most during the trip to varying levels of surprise. Vargas, who hadn’t homered in 174 professional at-bats entering the season, hit two home runs and drove in six along with five doubles and three stolen bases, raising his average to .342.

Prigatano started as a bench player but is receiving regular at-bats thanks to an injury to Matt Chavez. He’s batting .326 after 11 hits on the road trip – he drove in seven runs and had three stolen bases.

Clevlen, a former major-leaguer who has been arguably the Wingnuts’ most valuable player since 2011, started the road trip with a .257 average. Over seven games, he went 12 for 28 with nine runs, three homers and 12 RBIs, raising his average to .304.

“It’s just a testament to our guys,” Rose said. “They’re persistent, they work hard, but the bottom line is they can really hit. You’ve got young guys hitting, you’ve got old guys hitting.”

The Wingnuts drew 40 walks on the road, pushing them into a tie for the American Association lead with 122. They lead the league in hits, batting average, on-base percentage and stolen bases and are second in runs, taking advantage of the freedom Rose gives them at the plate.

“I think I’ve put maybe one bunt sign on. I haven’t put a steal sign on,” Rose said. “I just want them to go out and play, and that’s what they’re doing. Scouts aren’t going to come see these guys bunt or see these guys hit-and-run. If they’re coming in to scout these guys, they want to see them hit.”

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 5:19 PM with the headline "League-best offense has Wingnuts surging."