The Kansas City T-Bones beat the Sioux City Explorers in the final game of the series, 11-5, evening the series at 2-2 on Sunday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas.
On the final game of their seven-game homestand, the T-Bones struck first. Left fielder Kyle Petty’s RBI double to center field brought in the first run of the game, putting Kansas City up 1-0 in the first inning.
The Explorers responded immediately in the second inning with an RBI single to center field by first baseman Dre Gleason to even the score at 1-1.
Kansas City took full control of the game in the third, bringing in four runs to regain the lead. Petty added his second double of the afternoon scoring second baseman Jerome Pena to take back a 2-1 lead.
Tyler Horan, the designated hitter, singled to center field to put the T-Bones up two and right fielder Chantz Mack doubled to center field to bring in two runs, stretching the lead to 5-1 going into the fourth inning.
Back-to-back singles allowed the Explorers to cut the T-Bones’ lead in the fifth. Gleason added his second RBI single of the game to left field to cut the lead to 5-2. The first baseman’s hit was followed by an RBI single to left field by newly signed second baseman Tanner Vavra, putting Sioux City within two runs.
The T-Bones managed to keep control of the three-run lead thanks to a wild pitch by left-handed pitcher Cody Forsythe that scored center fielder Ross Kivett in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Sioux City’s fight never wavered as the Explorers worked to cut Kansas City’s lead even further. Right fielder Michael Lang doubled to center field to put the Explorers back within two runs going into the bottom of the sixth.
The seventh inning was no different than the sixth as the Explorers managed to bring in another run, cutting the T-Bones’ lead to 6-5. Third baseman Joel Davis singled to center field to get the RBI and make the offensive play for Sioux City.
After letting the Explorers crawl back in the game, the T-Bones worked to maintain their lead throughout the seventh inning.
Catcher Leo Rojas launched a sacrifice fly to center field to score Petty, stretching the lead to 7-5. Kivett proceeded to score off a walk with the bases loaded by right-handed pitcher Keith Picht (1-2, 1.88), extending the T-Bones’ lead to three.
Kansas City all but completed the win in the bottom of the eighth with Petty’s two-run home run to stretch the lead to 10-5. Mack sealed the 11-5 win with an RBI double bringing Horan to even the series at 2-2.
Right-handed pitcher Gabe Perez (3-4, 5.54) tossed the win, while left-handed pitcher Cody Forsythe (5-3, 5.36) suffered the loss.
The T-Bones (28-20) will begin a six game road trip at 7:02 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at Newman Outdoor Field against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Kansas City will return home for a 10-game homestand at 7:05 p.m. July 18 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Tickets are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.
– Story from T-Bones