Wingnuts run to 7-3 win over Fargo

The Wingnuts’ offense is becoming just as defined by what it doesn’t do as by what it does.

They don’t hit many home runs, but they replace that output by leading the league in on-base percentage and walks and are second in hits, making trips around the bases more lively and crowded.

Manager Pete Rose Jr. never signals for a steal, but the Wingnuts lead the American Association in stolen bases, taking seven in a 7-3 win over Fargo-Moorhead on Sunday at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

The Wingnuts (16-13) had 11 hits, including Brent Clevlen’s fifth-inning solo homer. The rest of the time, Wichita used its speed and instincts to wear down Fargo pitchers, sending 15 batters to the plate during the fourth and fifth innings combined.

“If you look at our lineup, our whole lineup is stacked,” said Wingnuts outfielder Harrison Kain, who had three hits and two stolen bases on Sunday. “We’ve got a solid 1-through-9, and any given day anyone can step up. It takes a lot of pressure off the guys that not everyone has to perform.”

Rose doesn’t call for stolen bases because the Wingnuts are almost always free to run. Most parts of the lineup contribute to those efforts, as the stolen bases on Sunday came from the Nos. 1, 6, 7 and 8 spots in the lineup.

Twice, the Wingnuts executed double steals, which, when not called, are heavily reliant upon awareness and alertness. When the runner at second base breaks for third, the runner on first must react quickly or risk being thrown out — if he even attempts the steal.

“It’s a tribute to our guys and how they play the game,” Rose said. “We play wide-open, that’s aggressive. If you get thrown out being aggressive, whether it’s on the bases or stealing — obviously you don’t want to be stupid, but we play smart. If they keep doing it, keep playing the game the way that you play it.

“I didn’t put anything on today. These guys are doing it themselves.”

The Wingnuts had at least one stolen base in each of the three innings they scored, and multiple steals led to runs that may not have immediately scored without them.

An RBI groundout in the fourth inning followed a double steal that put runners on second and third with one out. In the fifth. Brent Dean hit a sacrifice fly after Kain doubled and stole third on the next pitch.

Wichita scored three runs in the fourth and three in the fifth on a single, three doubles, a triple, a home run and four stolen bases.

“You’re running unless I stop you,” Rose said. “If we put the stop sign on – it’s something that we seldom do – but if we do, don’t run. If not, if you get a jump, go ahead and go. Obviously, you don’t want to run yourself out of innings, but these guys have three green light. Until they prove me otherwise, let’s just keep playing the game the way they’re playing.

Wichita’s stolen bases prevented Fargo from settling in the way the Wingnuts did in the middle innings. Starting pitcher Charlie Leesman labored through five innings, walking three and allowing three unearned runs.

The runs were unearned because of three Wichita errors, but the defense was sharp for the final six innings. The bullpen picked up Leesman, too, tossing four scoreless innings with six strikeouts.

“We work hard,” Rose said. “It may not seem like we’re on the field for hours, but we come here early, they work hard then they get back in and rest for a 7:05 (start time). The bullpen’s doing a hell of a job, starters are doing a hell of a job, position players are doing a hell of a job. We’re just putting it all together.”

This story was originally published June 19, 2016 at 4:52 PM with the headline "Wingnuts run to 7-3 win over Fargo."