The Kansas City T-Bones (52-39) returned to Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday night for a second time in seven days to start a key series with the local nine, the Sioux City Explorers (51-40).
The T-Bones unveiled some new weapons in their pursuit of a second consecutive playoff berth, but it was one of the old weapons, Dylan Tice, who helped lead the KC attack in a 9-5 win and allowed the T-Bones to take sole possession of second place in the American Association South Division.
Newly acquired left-handed pitcher T.J. House (1-0) got the starting nod and tossed six innings, giving up five earned runs on some hard luck for Kansas City.
House was in command through the first three innings and had a lead of 6-0, thanks to the T-Bones bats. In the top of the second,
Five straight Kansas City batters reach against Sioux City starter Sam Held (2-1). Christian Correa ran out an infield single with the bases loaded to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead. Danny Mars followed with an RBI single, scoring two to increase the lead to 3-0. With one out Dylan Tice launched a triple to right center field to drive in two more to make it 5-0 KC. Mason Davis added a sacrifice fly to bring home Tice, and the T-Bones were in business.
House gave up an earned run in the fourth when Dexture McCall drove in the Explorers first run of the game with a two-out single.
In the home half of the fifth, House retired the first two batters, but Sioux City loaded the bases on a single from Kyle Wren that just squeezed through the five and six hole and another single by Drew Stankiewicz. Nate Samson then reached on a swinging bunt infield single that allowed him to beat the Shawn O’Malley throw by a half step. That set the stage for Jose Sermo to clear the bases with a grand slam home run.
The T-Bones needed some insurance to hold on to a 6-5 lead into the seventh. Chris Collabello hit a single to through the right side of the infield to score two — one of the runners was Tice who scored two runs while reaching base four times in a 4-for-5 night with three RBI.
In the eighth facing right-hander Ryan Flores, Tice drove in his third run with a two-out RBI single, scoring Danny Mars for a 9-5 lead.
House worked a scoreless sixth and turned it over to Hunter Smith, who worked two scoreless innings of relief.
Carlos Diaz closed out the ninth as the T-Bones won for the fifth time in a row with a 9-5 final. House picked up the win while Held was charged with the loss for Sioux City.
The two teams played game two of the series Sunday with a first pitch at 4:12 p.m.
Following this series, KC will head back to Texas for a three-game series. The T-Bones now sit alone in second place and trail first place Cleburne by 1.5 games.
Tickets to all T-Bones home games are on sale online at www.tbonesbaseball.com or by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke’s Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale.
- Story from T-Bones