Wichita scored four runs in the first inning and their starter Chris Smith held the RailCats to a run in seven innings as the Wingnuts beat the RailCats 5-1 on Wednesday. The RailCats (4-3) played in front of a season-high Kids Day crowd of 5,575 at U. S. Steel Yard.
Stephen Hiscock allowed runs in the first inning for the second time in as many starts this season. With two on and nobody out in the inning, John Rodriguez ripped a base hit into right field to score Ryan Khoury from second. American Association home run leader CJ Ziegler followed by smashing his fifth homer of the season, a three-run shot, that gave Wichita a 4-0 lead after the top of the first.
It was the fifth three-run home run allowed by Railcats pitching this season, the second in the first inning of a game (Alain Quijano).
Wichita tacked on an unearned run in the fourth inning. Derek Perren walked and Stephen Yoo reached on a fielding error by shortstop Danny Pulfer, allowing Perren to move to third. Jared McDonald hit a sac fly to left to make it a 5-0 lead.
RailCats starter Stephen Hiscock (0-1) exited after five innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits. He walked one and struck out one.
Wingnuts starting pitcher Chris Smith (1-0) gave up a single and walked one in the first but escaped the inning before retiring the next 16 RailCats hitters. With two out in the sixth, Mike Massaro lined a single to right to end the streak. The next batter, Cristian Guerrero, hit a bloop single down the right field line to score Massaro and pull the RailCats to within 5-1.
The game was delayed for an hour and 42 minutes in the eighth inning due to rain. When play resumed, the RailCats loaded the bases with two out but Ryan Babineau flew out to the warning track in right to end the inning. The RailCats put two men on in the ninth but Josh Dew pitched out of it to end the game.
The RailCats will have the day off on Thursday before starting a three-game weekend series in Kansas City on Friday at 7:05. Will Krout (0-0, 6.00 ERA) will take the ball for Gary.
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