Facing an early 11:05 a.m. start, a three-game losing streak and upon hearing the pre-game news that the Kansas City Royals had purchased the contract of four-hole hitter Zach Walters, the T-Bones had all the ingredients for a recipe for a slow start Wednesday at Wichita.
That was the furthest thing from the case as the T-Bones were more than up to the challenge. Kansas City took a 5-0 lead before the clock hit noon on the way to ending a three-game losing streak. Kansas City rode a solid effort from starter Scott Carroll (3-1) to beat the Wichita Wingnuts 7-5 Wednesday at Lawrence Dumont Stadium in Wichita.
In the top of the first inning for Kansas City, Marcus Lemon had an RBI double and Kevin Keyes followed with a two-run home run, off Wichita starter Alex Boshers (3-2), to make it 3-0 after one.
Kansas City picked up two more runs in the second. Eddie Newton singled to left and with one out Marcus Lemon doubled him home to up the score to 4-0. Kevin Keyes then followed with a tripled to left center to score Lemon and it was 5-0 T-Bones.
Wichita got two runs off Carroll in the second, but the T-Bones veteran was able to find his groove and toss a quality start with six strike outs. Zac Fisher hit a solo shot in the fifth for Wichita but the T-Bones would answer in the top of the next inning.
With the departure of Zach Walters, Kansas City activated Jordan Edgerton off the disabled list prior to the game. The former Atlanta Braves farm hand launched a two-run homer off Boshers to make the score 7-3 Kansas City in the sixth.
The Wingnuts got two runs in the home half of the eighth inning on a Matt Chavez two run home run off T-Bones reliever Grant Sides but that was as close as they would get. Cody Winiarski worked a scoreless ninth to pick up his third save. The Wingnuts got the lead off man aboard to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of ninth, but Winiarski shut the door, retiring Wichita in order 1-2-3, with a pair of strike outs the last one ending the game.
The series and trip will wrap up Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. in Wichita with right-handed pitcher Calvin Drummond (1-1, 5.32) for Kansas City facing right-handed pitcher Ryan Kussmal (2-2, 4.10) for Wichita. The game 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 homestand.
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