WICHITA – In the longest game in Wind Surge history, the RockHounds won a wild 10 inning game by a final score of 13-12.
This game got out to an ugly start as Midland put up four runs in the first inning before an out was recorded. Devin Foyle hit a two-run home run before JJ Schwarz and Jhonny Santos both picked up RBI doubles. However, the Wind Surge were able to take the lead just two innings later, thanks in part to a six run third inning. In the second, the Surge tallied one on the board after Spencer Steer drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch with two outs in the inning. Though that was the lone run they scored, Wichita pounded Midland the next inning with six runs on four hits. Trey Cabbage led off the inning with a towering home run to the left field bullpen. Cabbage’s 7th long ball of the season traveled 403 feet at 102 miles per hour. Ernie De La Trinidad singled in Jermaine Palacios after Palacios doubled to cut the RockHound lead down to just one. A bases-loaded walk drawn by Austin Martin tied the game at 4. Spencer Steer kept the line moving with a sacrifice fly to give Wichita the lead for good. Roy Morales finished off the inning with a deep two-RBI double that bounced off the center field wall. After the damage was done by the Wichita offense, the Surge found themselves with a 7-4 advantage.
The Wind Surge offense kept the foot on the gas pedal in the next inning. After Aaron Whitefield moved Ernie De La Trinidad to third and D.J. Burt to second off a fly ball to center field, Austin Martin continued his hot hitting by driving them in on a single to left field. Midland answered back with a two-run home run by Logan Davidson in the top of the fifth. The Wind Surge were able to score again in the bottom of the fifth inning for the fourth consecutive inning. Trey Cabbage hit a rocket to center field that ricocheted off the center field wall. The center fielder had trouble grasping the ball, allowing Cabbage to sprint into third base safely for his first triple of the season. Cabbage later scored on a passed ball to score the 10th run of the game for Wichita.
The bullpen could not hold on to the four run lead as Midland was able to tie the game at 10 in the top of the eighth inning. Thankfully, the red-hot Wichita offense came through again to seal the 12-10 victory. Andrew Bechtold fought through his struggling night with a clutch home run to deep center field for his 13th home run of the season. Jermaine Palacios followed Bechtold with a long ball of his own. This time, Palacios’ 15th shot of the year landed in the right field porch for an insurance run heading to the ninth.
Midland just would not go away as they tied the game again in the top of the ninth inning. With two outs and two strikes in the count, Jake Suddelson singled to right field to drive in the game-tying run. The offense came up empty in the bottom of the ninth as this game went into extra innings. The RockHounds eventually won the game on a fielding error, of all things, in the top of the 10th.
Jordan Balazovic struggled in his 12th start of the year, but his offense picked him up with some run support. Balazovic lasted 4.2 innings and allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out four. Jhonleider Salinas threw 1.2 innings of scoreless and hitless relief while striking out three.
NOTES
Thursday night’s game time of 4:28 is officially the longest game in Wind Surge history (previous: 4:01, Aug. 1 at Springfield).
COMING UP
Wichita will play game four against the Midland RockHounds Friday evening. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. from Riverfront Stadium. Wichita will start RHP Chris Vallimont (3-4, 4.85 ERA) against Midland’s RHP Brady Feigl (6-6, 4.31 ERA). Catch the game at MiLB.TV and Windsurge.com.