The Dodge City Athletics (9-7, 3-7 Jayhawk League) capitalized with a 10-2 victory over the Wichita Sluggers Wednesday in their last game at Cavalier Field until July 2.
Behind starting pitcher Justin Brown, the A's gave up two runs on one hit in the first inning and then only allowed two hits the rest of the game.
"Justin Brown did a nice job," Dodge manager Jeremy Irlbeck said. "He didn't come out of the 'pen ready to go completely. He struggled early and then he did a great job getting ahead, and when you can pitch ahead, it's a much better situation to pitch in a pitcher's count than a hitter's count. Once he made that adjustment after the first inning, he did a pretty good job."
The A's bounced back in the bottom of the first as center fielder Landon Anderson got things started in the leadoff spot with a standup triple.
The following at-bat, Chris Winder reached on an error by Wichita third baseman Conner Sinclair and Anderson came around to score. Anderson went 2-for-4 on the night with two runs scored.
Dodge started their half of the second inning with two straight strikeouts by designated hitter Brad Cochrane and catcher Phil Rodriguez. But then second baseman Markus Miyashiro committed two consecutive errors for the Sluggers, Anderson singled to third, and the bases were loaded for Winder.
Winder stepped to the plate and reached for the second time of the game, knocking a bases-clearing double down the left-field line to give the A's a 4-2 lead after two.
"Tonight, at the plate, the guys made some adjustments, and had some hits and got what they needed to to get it done," Irlbeck said.
Former Dodge High Red Demon, Dodge City Community College Conquistador, and now New Mexico State Aggie Max Taylor tagged Wichita starting pitcher Alex Marney for a solo home run in the fourth, and the A's added another run in the fifth to take 6-2 advantage.
With runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth, Winder added two more RBIs on the night after singling to left. Winder went 3-for-5 and led the A's with five RBIs.
"If we have good approaches at the plate, we got a talented enough group that we should be OK," Irlbeck said.
Brown got the win for Dodge after only allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in six innings of work.
The A's will hit the road today to take on the Diamond Dawgs of Valley Center, and then after a day off, Dodge will have a two-game weekend series with Jayhawk League foe the Derby Twins.
DODGE CITY —
