Brett Wiley launched his fifth home run of the season in the top of the ninth and Mark Haynes shut the door, as Kansas City beat Lincoln, 5-4, on Tuesday night at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Neb.
The T-Bones led from the top of the first inning until the bottom of the eighth. That’s when former T-Bones outfielder Robby Kuzdale led off with a single, his second hit of the night.
After Connor Teykl flied out to center field and reliever Evan DeLuca walked Brandon Jacobs, Rene Leveret knocked in Kuzdale with a base hit, cutting Kansas City’s lead to 3-2. Jacobs and Leveret advanced on a throwing error by Vladimir Frias, putting them on second and third.
Luis Alen then grounded a ball to Nate Tenbrink, who threw home but his bad throw allowed Jacobs to score and tie the game at 3-3. DeLuca (2-1) retired the final two batters, leaving two runners in scoring position.
With one out and the game tied at 3 in the top of the ninth, Wiley sent Brad Orosey’s (2-2) pitch over the right field wall, giving the T-Bones a 4-3 lead. Wiley finished with a 4-for-5 night, with three RBIs and two runs scored. He was a triple shy of the cycle.
Haynes (12) came in for Kansas City in the ninth and retired the Saltdogs in order, including the final out, a three-pitch strikeout of Haynes’ former teammate, Kuzdale.
Kansas City jumped on Lincoln and former T-Bones pitcher Casey Barnes early. After Tyson Gillies sent the first pitch of the game to the warning track in right field for a lead-off double, Wiley brought him home with a single.
Then, with two outs, Tyler Massey slapped a base hit that scored Wiley and gave the T-Bones a 2-0 lead. Kansas City added a run in the fifth, when Tenbrink scored on a hit by Wiley. Barnes allowed 10 hits, three runs and walked one in 6 2/3 innings.
T-Bones starter Mike Kickham struggled early, giving up four hits in the first two innings. Jon Smith led off the second with a double, and then went to third on a wild pitch to Tyler Urps.
With a 2-2 count, Urps was hit by a pitch and promptly stole second, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs. Austin Darby scored Smith with a sacrifice to center, but that was the only run Kickham allowed. He went 7 innings, giving up four hits, three walks and one run, while striking out five. At one point, he retired 15 straight Saltdog hitters.
Kansas City (26-31) continues the three-game series with Lincoln (32-24) at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday. All of the action can be heard online at TBonesBaseball.com.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones