Kansas City scored five runs with two outs in the first inning as the T-Bones went on to beat Amarillo 8-4 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Monday night in Kansas City, Kan.
Amarillo starter Clayton Tanner (2-3) collected two quick outs before allowing singles to Matt Padgett, Ray Sadler and Nick Schwaner, which loaded the bases.
Tanner then walked Bryan Sabatella, forcing in a run, and allowed a single to Robby Kuzdale that scored Sadler and Schwaner. Brian Erie, who came into the game hitting .375 with runners in scoring position and two outs, and then shot a single up the middle that scored two more and pushed the Kansas City lead to 5-0.
The Sox, meanwhile, had trouble figuring out Kansas City starter Jared Messer. Making just his third professional start, Messer didn’t allow a base runner to reach third base for the first five innings of play.
Amarillo finally got something going in the sixth. Trailing 6-0, Ransom LaLonde led off the inning with a single and came around to score when Derek Perren knocked an RBI single into center field. Andres Rodriguez later doubled, scoring Perren and cutting the Kansas City lead to 6-2.
Kansas City reclaimed its six-run lead almost immediately, however, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Danny Richar drew a walk, forcing in a run. Matt Padgett then grounded into a double play, but managed to push across another run and increase the Kansas City lead to 8-2.
Messer (4-2) went on to toss 7 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits while striking out seven, as he picked up his first win at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Tanner took the loss.
With the win, the T-Bones move to 39-47 on the season, while the Sox fall to 30-54. Kansas City continues its three game series with Amarillo Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
Box score: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=178170
– Story from T-Bones