The Kansas City T-Bones fell to the Winnipeg Goldeyes, 7-6, after a ninth-inning comeback fell short Saturday night in front of a crowd of 5,011 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Entering the ninth inning, the T-Bones and Goldeyes were tied at 4-4 before Winnipeg took a three-run, 7-4, lead. T-Bones reliever Aaron Baker (2-4) gave up a lead-off single to Josh Romanski.
A wild pitch and fly out allowed Romanski to advance to third. Willie Cabrera walked before a double by Wes Darvill scored Romanski. Ridge Hoopi-Haslam doubled to center field, scoring both Cabrera and Darvill, giving Winnipeg its lead.
Winnipeg brought in closer Eric Eadington in the bottom of the ninth. Eadington walked Tyson Gillies, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Following a strike out by Brett Wiley, Tyler Massey walked.
Jake Blackwood doubled, scoring both Gillies and Massey, but Blackwood tried to stretch it into a triple and was called out at third. Anthony Gallas, the tying run, was unable to complete the comeback for Kansas City, striking out and ending the game.
The T-Bones, trailing 4-2, tied the game in the seventh. After a double by Wiley, Massey reached base on an error by Winnipeg second baseman Darvill. Winnipeg reliever Kyle Lotzkar gave up an RBI single to Blackwood before Massey scored on a wild pitch that tied the game at 4-4.
Winnipeg reliever Cameron McVey (1-2) entered the game in the eighth inning and held the T-Bones scoreless.
The rubber match between the T-Bones (27-34) and Goldeyes (33-27) is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1:05 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones