The Kansas City T-Bones put together a four-run third inning and didn’t trail after that point, beating Sioux City 7-5 Friday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
The T-Bones struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Starlin Rodriguez opened the inning with a double to left. Explorers starting pitcher Bryan Escanio (2-2) then walked Tyler Massey. After Escanio retired the next two batters, he walked the bases loaded with a free pass to Jimmy Mojica. That’s when Brett Wiley, the hottest hitter in the American Association, lined a two-run single to left that scored Rodriguez and Massey. giving Kansas City a 2-0 lead.
Sioux City answered with three runs of their own in the second. Kansas City’s starting pitcher Jared Messer (3-0) walked Tommy Mendonca, and Ralph Henriquez singled to right. After Matt Koch loaded the bases with a single to right, Brendan Slattery, grounded out to shortstop Vladimir Frias, cutting Kansas City’s lead in half. Derrick Robinson then knocked a two-run single that scored Henriquez and Koch, and gave the Explorers a 3-2 lead.
The Explorers added to their lead in the top of the third as Mendonca hit his fifth home run of the season, bringing the score to 4-2.
Escanio struggled against Kansas City’s offense in the third as the T-Bones sent nine to the plate. With one out, Anthony Gallas walked and Mojica singled to center. Wiley roped a triple that brought in Gallas and Mojica, giving Wiley four RBIs in the game and tying the score at 4-4. Escanio walked his fourth batter of the game, Frias, who stole second. Erie then hit a two-run single to center, that gave Kansas City a 6-4 lead.
Kansas City strengthened its lead in the fifth. Wiley led off the inning with a double to right, his third hit of the night. Erie then got his third hit and third RBI of the night, as he singled to center, which scored Wiley and put the T-Bones ahead, 7-4. Wiley, who ended the night a home run shy of the cycle, now has a nine-game hitting streak, which includes eight multi-hit games. In his last eight games, Wiley is batting a league-best .621 (18 for 29) with 15 RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Messer (3-0) got the win after going 5 innings, giving up six hits and four runs. Kansas City used four relievers before bringing in Mark Haynes, who pitched a perfect ninth and got his ninth save of the season.
With the win, Kansas City has now won its last four series. The T-Bones (22-26) and Sioux City (22-26) are scheduled to finish their three-game series Saturday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
– from Matt Fulks, T-Bones