WICHITA, Kan. — The Wichita Wind Surge (20-24) fell 10-6 to the Corpus Christi Hooks (22-22) in game five of a six-game series Saturday night at Equity Bank Park despite a five-RBI performance from Jake Rucker that included his seventh home run of the season.
Rucker led the Wind Surge offense, blasting a two-run homer to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. The long ball extended his on-base streak to 17 games as part of a two-hit, five-RBI night. Brandon Winokur also extended his on-base streak to 15 games, while Caden Kendle drove in a run with an RBI single.
On the mound, the Wind Surge struck out 11 batters, marking their 48th game with double-digit strikeouts this season. Mitch Mueller tossed another scoreless outing, his sixth in seven appearances with Wichita, while Will Fleming added two scoreless innings of relief.
THE RUNDOWN
Cory Lewis started things on the hill for the Wind Surge, working around a two-out triple and striking out one to keep the game scoreless after the first inning.
The Hooks opened the scoring in the top of the second, smashing a two-run homer to left-center field to take a 2-0 lead.
The Surge tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Rucker blasted a two-out, two-run homer, his seventh of the season, to make it 2-2.
Corpus Christi retook the lead in the sixth, using a walk and a pair of singles to plate a run before adding two more on a wild pitch and another RBI single. The Hooks continued to pile on, loading the bases and scoring three more on a bases-loaded walk and a two-run double. The six-run frame gave Corpus Christi an 8-2 lead.
The Hooks padded their lead in the eighth, using a single, an RBI groundout and a pair of Wind Surge errors to make it 10-2.
Wichita trimmed the deficit in the bottom of the eighth. Three singles brought home a run before the Surge loaded the bases and Rucker cleared them with a three-run double, cutting the deficit to 10-6.
The Wind Surge could not overcome the four-run deficit in the ninth, taking the 10-6 loss.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Wind Surge struck out 11 batters, their 48th game with double-digit strikeouts this season.
- The Wind Surge lead the series 3-2.
- Brandon Winokur extended his on-base streak to 15 games.
- Caden Kendle tallied an RBI single.
- Garrett Spain extended his on-base streak to seven games.
- Jake Rucker extended his on-base streak to 17 games and crushed his seventh home run of the season.
- Rucker tallied his 10th multi-hit performance of the season and has recorded multiple hits in back-to-back games.
- Rucker recorded his fifth multi-RBI game of the season and drove in a season-high five runs.
- RHP Cory Lewis allowed two runs over 3 2/3 innings in his start.
- RHP Mitch Mueller logged his sixth scoreless appearance of the season.
- RHP Will Fleming notched his 14th scoreless appearance of the season.
STAT OF THE DAY
5 — No. 5 Jake Rucker recorded his fifth multi-RBI game of the season and drove in a season-high five runs.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Wind Surge play the finale of their six-game series against the Corpus Christi Hooks on Sunday at Equity Bank Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. The game can be heard on 92.3 FM ESPN Wichita and at windsurge.com, and viewed on MiLB.TV and Bally Sports Live.