The Kansas City T-Bones gave up a late run to Wichita on Thursday night, resulting in a 5-4 loss to the Wingnuts at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita.
In the eighth, with the game tied at 4-4, Wichita scored what would be the winning run. Josh Tols struck out lead-off batter Brent Clevlen, but Clevelen reached on a dropped third strike by catcher Tyler Moore.
Tols (5-4) then walked former Kansas City teammate T.J. Mittelstaedt and gave up a single to Matt Chavez, loading the bases. Martin Medina sent a fly to left field that was deep enough to score Clevlen and give the Wingnuts a 5-4 lead. Tols limited the damage by striking out the next two Wingnuts.
Kansas City, which tied the game with a run in the top of the seventh, was retired in order by Wichita closer Frankie Reed. The 18th save of the season for Reed, who’s now tied for second-most saves in the league, didn’t start off easily, as Dalton Wheat battled for a 10-pitch at-bat before grounding out for the first out.
The Wingnuts jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first against T-Bones starter Sean Furney, when Christian Stringer led off the inning with a single and the next batter, Zack Cox, hit his 11th home run of the season. The T-Bones tied it over the next two innings, though, when Starlin Rodriguez led off the second with a home run, and Brett Wiley knocked in Tyler Massey with a base hit in the third.
Kansas City took a 3-2 lead in the fourth after Rodriguez led off with a base hit and went to third on a single by Moore, Sergio Leon gave the T-Bones the lead with a sacrifice fly to left that brought in Rodriguez.
Wichita took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Stringer doubled with two outs and then Furney issued back-to-back walks to Cox and Clevelen. Mittelstaedt then singled to right, bringing home Stringer and Cox, and giving the Wingnuts a 4-3 lead. Furney allowed four runs on six hits with four walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Kansas City answered in the seventh, tying the game at 4-4. Wheat and Wiley led off the inning with back-to-back singles. With one out, Anthony Gallas drove Wheat home with an RBI double, but the T-Bones stranded two after Rodriguez struck out and Vladimir Frias flied out. The T-Bones left nine runners on base in the game.
Kansas City (38-45), which lost three of four to Wichita, returns to CommunityAmerica Ballpark for a six-game home stand that starts Friday evening at 7:05 against the Texas AirHogs (28-55). Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones