The Kansas City T-Bones and Wichita Wingnuts were locked into a 2-2 pitchers’ duel into the top of the ninth inning. Then with a flip of the switch, Kansas City sent up 14 batters in the inning, scoring nine runs and rolling to a 11-3 series opening win.
Adrian Nieto had his fourth hit of the night in the ninth, a bases-clearing double to score two runs to give KC the 4-2 lead off Wichita reliever James Campbell.
Dylan Tice drove in another with a double to make it 5-2 T-Bones. The T-Bones were just getting started.
With the bases loaded, Zach Walters drove in two more runs, and Cal Towey followed with a double to score another pair, and it was 9-2 Kansas City.
The T-Bones picked up an RBI single from Dexter Kjerstad, his second RBI on the night, with an error by short stop Leo Vargas leading to the final run of the ninth.
Tommy Collier tossed his third straight quality start, allowing only a solo homerun to Fernando Perez in the second for his only earned run.
Collier struck out nine and scattered five hits, getting a no decision. Wichita starter Travis Banwart went seven innings, giving up two earned runs, but also did not figure in the decision.
The T-Bones took the lead in the fourth on a leadoff double for Nick Torres. Zach Walters followed with another base knock to left to put runners at the corners. Dexter Kjerstad hit a sac fly to left to tie the game; then Adrian Nieto singled to right to give Kansas City the 2-1 lead.
Wichita would tie the game in the eighth with a two-out RBI single by John Nester off Sam Street, but that was all the scoring for the Wingnuts on the evening.
Carlos Diaz (1-1) worked the final out of the eighth and got the win. Campbell (0-3) got the loss for Wichita.
The T-Bones (11-8) will take on the Wingnuts (10-10) in the second game of the three-game series at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita.
Right-handed pitcher Scott Carroll (0-0, 1.68) will make his second start for Kansas City while Wichita will send out right-handed pitcher Jordan Cooper (2-1, 3.27). The game can be heard on the T-Bones Broadcast Network, http://mixlr.com/t-bones-baseball/.
The T-Bones return home at 7:05 p.m. Monday, June 11, to open a four-game series with the Sioux City Explorers.
Season, group, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale and can be purchased by visiting the box office at T-Bones Stadium. Call the box office at 913-328-5618 or purchase and print at www.tbonesbaseball.com. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
– Story from T-Bones