The Kansas City T-Bones (53-40) found themselves trailing by two in the eighth inning but mounted a comeback to take game two of the series 5-4 Tuesday night over the Sioux City Explores (42-51) at Lewis and Clark Park in Sioux City, Iowa.
With one out in the top of the eighth, Sioux City reliever Ryan Flores walked Kevin Keyes and Kyle Petty to put runners at first and second.
Flores was able to retire Niko Vasquez for the second out of the inning but Chantz Mack stepped up and ripped a double down the right field line to score Keyes.
Sioux City first baseman Tyler Ogle threw the relay throw to third base to attempt to get Petty, who headed back to third after he rounded the bag.
The throw bounced away and into the third base dugout allowing both Petty and Mack to score to give Kansas City the lead, 5-4.
Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the second off X’s starter Keith Picht. Tucker Pennell doubled with one two outs and came home on an RBI single from Cedric Hunter.
The lead went to 2-0 in the top of the fourth on a solo home run from Zane Chavez for Kansas City.
Sioux City mounted its own comeback against newly acquired starter Jared Mortensen for the T-Bones. With one out in the home half of the fourth Nate Samson worked a walk and Dylan Kelly singled. Eudor Garcia followed with an infield single and the bases were loaded.
Joel Davis hit a sacrifice fly to right to score one run. After a Tony Campana walk, Micheal Lang singled to tie the game at two.
In the fifth, Sioux City took the lead on an RBI double from Nate Samson and add to the advantage on an RBI single from Eudor Garcia to make it 4-2. The game stayed that way until the 8th inning when the T-Bones made their rally.
Jeff Walters worked a shutdown eighth and Cody Winiarski notched his 19th save working a scoreless ninth to preserve the win. Rich Mascheri (3-2) worked the seventh inning to pick up the relief win. The loss went to Ryan Flores (4-5).
The win pulled Kansas City even with Fargo-Moorhead, who lost to Lincoln Tuesday and a game the clear of Gary, who were beaten by Sioux Falls in their quest for the American Association Wild Card playoff spot with six games left. The win gave Kansas City their second most wins ever in franchise history at 53 in a single season.
The T-Bones face two more big games in Sioux City with the third game of the four-game series set for Wednesday night in Iowa with the game being aired on the T-Bones Broadcast Network.
Kansas City is set to start right-hander Luis Paula (6-2, 2.91) while left-handed pitcher Hobbs Johnson (3-8, 4.51) will go for Sioux City.
The T-Bones return home for their final home stand Friday night to open a four-game series with the St. Paul Saints.
Tickets are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.
– Story from T-Bones
