It took one swing of the bat to ruin one of the best performances of the year for the Kansas City T-Bones.
That swing came from the bat of Eddie Medina, who delivered a three-run home run for Wichita, as the Wingnuts won 4-3 over the T-Bones in walk off fashion Monday night in Wichita.
With the T-Bones holding a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth, the first two batters reached on back-to-back singles from Brent Clevlen and T.J. Mittelstaedt, off T-Bones reliever Jeff Walters. The right-hander then got a fly ball out from Matt Chavez for the first out of the inning. Brennen Salgado then drove in Clevlen with an RBI single to make it 3-1. Two pitches later Medina won it on a home run to left center.
The end over-shadowed another solid outing for Chris Perry. The T-Bones’ starter went seven innings, with nine strike outs, holding Wichita to just one hit way back in the first. If not for a dropped third strike in the sixth, he would have retired the next 20 batters he faced, but had to settle for 14 in a row and 19 out of 20. Perry has now struck out 20 in his last two starts over a 12 2/3 inning span.
In a rematch with former T-Bone Jordan Cooper, Kansas City was able to strike first once again. Chase McDonald doubled with two outs in the second and came home on an RBI single from Chantz Mack to make it 1-0.
Kevin Keyes homered twice in the game in the third and fifth, both off Cooper, to extend the lead to 3-0. Cooper went six for the no decision for Wichita, surrendering nine hits.
In the eighth the Wingnuts got their first hit since the first on a pair of infield singles that took huge “turf” added hops off the artificial surface. Cody Winiarski kept Wichita off the board and worked around any damage setting up the ninth inning for Wichita.
Zach Walters extended his hitting streak to 11 games for Kansas City in the loss going 3-for-4 and Chantz Mack had a two-hit night as well. Jeff Walters (1-2), who was moved to the bull pen after beginning the year in the rotation, was charged with the blown save, while the win went to Matt Devine (1-2).
The four-game series and road trip continues Tuesday night with left-handed pitcher Rich Mascheri making his first T-Bones start and right-handed pitcher Tyler Kane (3-1, 4.74) going for Wichita. The action will be on the T-Bones Broadcast Network online at tbonesbaseball.com. The team returns home on Friday night, June 16, to begin a 10-game home stand.
Tickets to home games are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.
– Story from T-Bones