After allowing four runs in the final two innings, the Kansas City T-Bones scored two runs on a sacrifice bunt in the ninth for a 5-4 walk-off win against the Gary SouthShore RailCats on Monday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
Trailing 4-3, Tyson Gillies started the T-Bones off in the bottom of the ninth with a double off the left field wall against Taylor Black.
With Gillies at second, Brett Wiley put down a perfect sacrifice bunt, but the throw from catcher Jaime Del Valle went over the head of first baseman Alex Crosby, which allowed Gillies to score.
As the ball went toward the right field corner, Wiley ran to third. The throw, however, from the right fielder Chase Harris went past third baseman Elbert Devarie, and Wiley popped up and headed home for the winning run. Wiley was credited with a sacrifice bunt and the RailCats were charged with two errors on the play.
The T-Bones got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. Kansas City’s leadoff batter, Gillies, got the first hit of the game with a single to center. With two outs and Gillies advancing to second on a wild pitch, Jake Blackwood singled, scoring Gillies and giving the T-Bones a 1-0 lead.
Kansas City extended its lead to 2-0 in the second. After RailCats starting pitcher Carlos Pinales struck out Vladimir Frias, Dalton Wheat got his first hit of the night with a single to center. Following another strikeout by Pinales, Sergio Leon’s single scored Wheat. In the fourth, Wheat tripled, but was thrown out at home trying to score on a groundball by Tyler Moore.
T-Bones starting pitcher Jordan Cooper was perfect through three innings before Cameron Newell led off the fourth with a single to right field. Two batters later, Harris singled to left, but Cooper kept the RailCats scoreless.
The RailCats trailed 3-0 until the eighth inning. Cooper walked Newell, and Alex Cheky followed with a single.
Kansas City turned to reliever Johnny Shuttlesworth, who got Harris out on a sacrifice bunt that moved Newell and Cheky to second and third, respectively. Frank Martinez then grounded out to Wiley, scoring Newell.
After Shuttlesworth walked Del Valle, newly-signed pitcher Tyler Ybarra struck out Alex Crosby for what should’ve been the third out, but the ball got past the catcher Moore, allowing Cheky to score. That cut the T-Bones’ lead to 3-2. Both runs were charged to Cooper, who allowed six hits and two walks in 7 innings.
The RailCats took the lead in the ninth against Kansas City closer Mark Haynes. Jarred Mederos started the ninth with a double off Haynes (1-0), who then walked Newell. A sacrifice by Cheky scored Mederos, tying the game at 3-3. With two outs, a single by Martinez scored Newell, giving the RailCats a 4-3 lead.
The T-Bones (29-34) will continue to play host to the RailCats (32-31) on Tuesday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones