Courtesy of the Wichita Wind Surge
WICHITA, Kan. — The Wind Surge were fueled by a pair of home runs by Yoyner Fajardo and newcomer Dalton Shuffield who rallied to defeat Tulsa. Wichita won the ball game 10-9 and win the series four games to two.
Tulsa wasted no time and put some runs on the board in the top of the first. Yusniel Diaz hit a two RBI single to get the Drillers offense going. Diego Cartaya then hit a two-run home run that landed in the Wind Surge bull pen. The Drillers now had a four-run lead.
The Wind Surge scored in the bottom of the first inning when Yoyner Fajardo stepped to the plate and crushed a lead-off solo home run over the right field wall that flew 419 feet.
The Drillers picked up another run in the top of the second. Jorbit Vivas hit a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed a runner to score from third.
The Surge took the lead from Tulsa in the bottom of the second. It started with a stand-up bases clearing three RBI triple from Will Holland to bring the Surge within one run. Fajardo then got his second RBI of the game when he hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Holland to tie the game. Tanner Schobel then hit an RBI double to put the Surge in the lead.
The lead swung back to the Drillers in the top of the third when Carson Taylor hit a three-run run home run over the right field wall.
The Drillers added to their lead in the top of the fifth. Hamlet Marte hit an RBI single on a line drive to center field.
In the bottom of the seventh Shuffield got a strike to swing at. After being walked the first three at bats, he crushed the ball over the right field wall for a three-run home run that tied the ball game. The home run was his third home run in just two games, and he has a hit in all three games he has played for Wichita.
Aaron Sabato had the tie breaking hit when he ripped a ball down the third base line for an RBI double and the Surge lead.
Chad Donato made his 11th start of the season on the mound for the Wichita Wind Surge. He pitched three innings where he gave up eight runs off seven hits. He struck out one batter and walked two more. Francis Peguero earned the win, and his record improves to (3-3).
The starting pitcher for Tulsa was Ben Casperius. He pitched three innings as well and gave up six runs off five hits. He struck four batters and walked four more. Antonio Knowles was credited with the loss.
The Wichita Wind Surge improve to (15-18, 42-58) and the Tulsa Drillers fall to (11-22, 52-50).
NOTES: Pierson Ohl was named Pitcher Of The Week by the Minnesota Twins. The Wind Surge ended their 11-game streak of committing an error in a game.
BROADCAST: ESPN 92.3 FM, Milb First Pitch App, Windsurge.com, MiLB.tv and Bally Live app.
UPCOMING: The Wichita Wind Surge head on the road to Northwest Arkansas for a six-game series against the Naturals. Game one will be played at 7:05 PM on Tuesday, August 8th.
NEXT HOME GAME: The Wind Surge return to Riverfront Stadium Tuesday, August 15th to host a six-game series against the Springfield Cardinals.
