FRISCO, Texas — The Wichita Wind Surge (21-25) rallied for a 10-9 win over the Frisco RoughRiders (24-22) in the opener of a six-game series Tuesday night at Riders Field, scoring six runs in the ninth inning behind a two-run homer from Caden Kendle and a go-ahead grand slam from Jay Thomason.
Thomason was the hero, blasting a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the ninth for his fourth home run of the season, capping a two-hit, four-RBI night. Brandon Winokur logged his seventh multi-hit game and fifth multi-RBI performance of the season, extending his on-base streak to 16 games while swatting his sixth homer of the year. Kendle also recorded two hits and two RBIs while adding his seventh home run of the season. Marek Houston recorded his 15th multi-hit performance of the year, while Jake Rucker extended his on-base streak to 20 games.
On the mound, the Surge allowed nine runs on 11 hits but received strong work from the bullpen, as William Fleming, Darren Bowen and Jaylen Nowlin each turned in scoreless relief appearances. Kyle Bischoff closed out the comeback victory with a scoreless ninth to earn the save.
THE RUNDOWN
The Wind Surge opened the scoring in the first inning after Kendle swatted a two-out double and Spain followed with an RBI single. Frisco answered in the bottom half, blasting a three-run homer over the wall in right field to take a 3-1 lead.
Wichita tied the game in the top of the second, rallying with two outs to draw a walk and collect back-to-back singles to score a run before a wild pitch brought home another to make it 3-3.
The RoughRiders regained the lead in the bottom half, cracking a solo home run onto the berm in right-center field before adding an RBI single to take a 5-3 advantage.
Frisco continued to add on in the bottom of the third, using three doubles and a wild pitch to plate three runs and extend its lead to 8-3.
After the teams traded scoreless innings, the Wind Surge pulled a run back in the seventh when Winokur launched a solo homer, his sixth of the season, to cut the deficit to 8-4.
Frisco added its final run in the bottom of the eighth, belting a solo home run over the wall in left field to make it 9-4.
The Wind Surge mounted a furious comeback in the top of the ninth. Kendle started the rally with a two-run homer, his seventh of the season, to cut the deficit to 9-6. Wichita went on to load the bases before Thomason crushed a go-ahead grand slam, his fourth home run of the year, to complete the six-run frame and give the Surge a 10-9 lead.
Bischoff took it from there, retiring the RoughRiders in the bottom of the ninth to secure the 10-9 comeback victory.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Tonight's six-run ninth inning marked the largest comeback of the season.
- Marek Houston extended his on-base streak to five games and logged his 15th multi-hit game of the season.
- Brandon Winokur extended his on-base streak to 16 games and swatted his sixth home run of the season.
- Winokur tallied his seventh multi-hit game of the season and fifth multi-RBI performance.
- Caden Kendle logged his 19th multi-hit game of the season and blasted his seventh home run.
- Kendle recorded his eighth multi-RBI game of the season.
- Garrett Spain extended his on-base streak to nine games and drove in a run.
- Jake Rucker extended his on-base streak to 20 games.
- Jay Thomason extended his on-base streak to five games, blasted his fourth home run of the season and drove in a season-high four runs.
- Thomason's grand slam gave him his eighth multi-RBI performance of the season.
- Jaime Ferrer tallied an RBI single.
- RHP Chris Vallimont made his 12th start of the season.
- RHP William Fleming tallied his 14th scoreless appearance of the season.
- RHP Darren Bowen logged his 16th scoreless appearance of the season.
- LHP Jaylen Nowlin logged his 18th scoreless appearance of the season.
- RHP Kyle Bischoff tossed a scoreless ninth inning to record the save.
TRANSACTIONS
- Jorel Ortega released by Wichita.
STAT OF THE DAY
6 — The Wind Surge erupted for six runs in the top of the ninth, capped by Jay Thomason's go-ahead grand slam, to turn a 9-4 deficit into a 10-9 lead.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Wind Surge continue their six-game road series against the Frisco RoughRiders on Wednesday at Riders Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 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.