The Kansas City T-Bones went into Monday night’s game looking to eclipse their all-time franchise win record, which they tied Sunday at 58 wins.
Meanwhile, Sioux City was looking to lock up the Southern Division title. In the end, it was Sioux City whose ambitions became reality as they defeated Kansas City 14-5 at T-Bones Stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.
A pair of two-run home runs and a late-game three-run homer for Sioux City helped fuel the fire. Noah Perio Jr. hit a two-run shot for the T-Bones, but it wasn’t enough to keep Kansas City’s early-game 5-1 lead from slipping away.
The Explorers grabbed a run in the top of the first on an RBI single to right by Jose Sermo that scored Luis Durango. But the T-Bones answered with one in the bottom of the first when Todd Cunningham reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Ryan Brett.
It was tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the third when the T-Bones went to town.
Kansas City got the go-ahead run when Mason Davis singled to right field and Keith Curcio was able to score on an error by the right fielder. Colin Walsh had an RBI single to center field that brought home Davis to make it 3-1 KC.
Then, Perio Jr., who was just named as the American Association’s Pointstreak Player of the Week, slammed a two-run home run out of the park to make it 5-1 in favor of the T-Bones.
In the top of the fifth, two runs came home for Sioux City when Daniel Jackson hit a long ball that edged in on the T-Bones lead by making the score 5-3.
Eleven batters made it to the plate for the Explorers in the top of the sixth as Sioux City came back to gain a lead, scoring six runs.
Nate Samson led off with a single, then Jose Sermo hit a two-run homer to left to even things up 5-5. Sioux City then got their first lead of the game when an RBI single by Dylan Kelly brought in Dean Green to make it 6-5 Explorers.
With runners on the corners and two out, Luis Durango drove the ball into right center which brought home Blake Schmit and Sioux City’s seventh run of the game. But before Kansas City could get out of the inning, Samson drove in a pair of runs on a single to give the Explorers a 9-5 advantage.
In the top of the ninth, newcomer Robert Calvano took the mound for KC, walking a man, advancing another on a hit by pitch, and walking another to load the bases. He then walked another to push home a run. Schmit scored on a sacrifice fly by Durango to make it 11-5. Then, a three-run home run by Michael Lang sealed it up at 14-5.
Kansas City wasn’t able to put any more runs on the board and the game ended 14-5. Hunter Adkins (6-6, 3.96) gets the loss for Kansas City, having worked 5.1 innings, giving up eight runs on ten hits. Justin Vernia (12-1, 3.20) is recorded with the win for Sioux City.
The T-Bones (58-33) look to decide the winner of the three-game series against Sioux City (67-26) Tuesday. It’s a rare day game, beginning at 11:05 a.m.
Season, group tickets, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale now 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