Kansas City allowed seven runs in the fifth inning and five runs in the eighth as the T-Bones fell to Gary SouthShore, 12-5, Saturday night at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, Ind.
With the T-Bones leading 3-0, Andy DeJesus and John Holland led off the fifth with back-to-back singles.
After Jarred Mederos reached when Kansas City starter Sean Furney bobbled a grounder back to the mound, Furney (3-3) walked home two runs, giving free passes to Kris Goodman and Reggie Wilson.
Chase Harris nearly emptied the bases with a two-run single. That ended Furney’s day and entered the door for David Holman out of the bullpen.
Frank Martinez was the first batter Holman faced, and Martinez sent a ball down the left field line that got trapped behind the tarp. T-Bones left fielder Starlin Rodriguez threw his hands up to signal that it was stuck, but to no avail as Martinez circled the bases for a three-run inside-the-park home run, his 11th homer of the season. That gave the RailCats a 7-3 lead after five.
Kansas City immediately answered in the top of the sixth, bringing home two. Anthony Gallas walked with one out and was sent to third after a Rodriguez double, his second of the game. Ryan Retz then singled, bringing in both Gallas and Rodriguez, and cutting the deficit to 7-5.
Gary added to its lead in the eighth. After Holland singled with one out, Anthony Cheky singled him home with two outs. Cheky was followed by a single from Reggie Wilson. Harris then brought both home with a double to left center. Martinez singled to right, which scored Harris. When it was all said and done, the RailCats added five insurance runs off T-Bones reliever Evan DeLuca, making the score 12-5 through eight innings.
The T-Bones jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first off RailCatss starter Travis McGee (4-8) when Dalton Wheat and Brett Wiley smacked back-to-back one-out singles. After Gallas walked with two outs, Rodriguez brought home all three when he doubled to left field.
Kansas City committed four errors, as the T-Bones extended their losing streak to five games.
Kansas City (39-52) concludes its three-game series against Gary SouthShore (49-43) Sunday afternoon at 2:10. All of the action can be heard at TBonesBaseball.com.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones