WICHITA, Kan. — Jon Gaston had three hits and three RBI but the Wichita Wingnuts (13-6) drowned the Saltdogs (6-14) with an eight-run second inning to take the series opener 10-4 in front of 1,969 fans at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium Thursday night.
The Wingnuts’ big inning came with four hits and four walks, capped by a T.J. Mittelstaedt three-run homer to right center, his third against Lincoln in a four at-bat stretch.
Charlie Lowell (1-1) pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits to earn the win. Luis Chirinos (2-2) settled down after the second, throwing four one-hit innings but walked six and struck out one to take the loss.
Gaston stroked a two-out, two-run double down the left field line in the top of the third to extend his hit streak to 12 games.
The game was played in two hours and thirty six minutes, the quickest nine-inning game of the season. Lincoln played its first error-free contest since May 26.
The clubs are back at it for game two of the four-game set Friday night at 7:05 p.m. LHP Moises Melendez (0-0, 1.50) is set to face RHP Scott Kuzminsky (1-0, 2.08). Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.
The ‘Dogs return home June 19 for a Fireworks Friday at 7:05 p.m. against Joplin. Get your tickets at www.saltdogs.com.