An eight-run fourth inning for Kansas City sealed a win over the Wichita Wingnuts Friday evening 12-6 at T-Bones Stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.
The T-Bones continue to hold second place in the league, as they have for most of the season, 2.5 games ahead of Wichita.
In the first, the T-Bones took an early 2-0 lead with a two-run RBI single by Noah Perio Jr. that scored Todd Cunningham and Mason Davis.
But Wichita answered back quickly, tying the score 2-2. With no outs in the top of the second and runners in scoring position, a two-run RBI single to center by John Nester brought home Tony Thomas and Chase Simpson.
Davis scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the third when Colin Walsh dropped an RBI single into left.
The bottom of the fourth saw Kansas City break it open, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring eight runs – the second-most runs scored in an inning this year for the T-Bones.
Adrian Nieto led off with a ground rule-double to right center. He moved up to third on a fielder’s choice, then was brought on by Keith Curcio with a ground ball through the hole on the left side.
With bases loaded and two out, Davis came up to the plate as the next batter. He lined to center for a two-run RBI double that scored Alay Lago and Curcio to make it 6-2 KC.
Wichita brought in relief pitcher James Campbell, who hit the first batter he faced, Cunningham, to load the bases. Campbell then walked Walsh to push home the T-Bones’ seventh run of the game.
Perio Jr. then hit into a fielder’s choice that put out Walsh and scored Davis, solidifying KC’s lead at by six at 8-2. Then, an explosive three-run home run by Nieto to the Wichita bullpen in left center put KC up 11-2.
Wichita grabbed a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. The T-Bones gave up a single, a walk and a passed ball, then Logan Watkins hit an infield sacrifice to score Logan Trowbridge and make it 11-3. Zach Nehrir dropped a ball into right center for a double that brought home Leo Vargas.
In the bottom of the fifth, Curcio slammed the ball to right-center for a stand-up triple. Davis hit a double past the third baseman to bring home Curcio and make it 12-4 KC.
Wichita grabbed a run in the sixth on an RBI single by Tony Thomas, making it 12-5. They had a late ninth inning run off an RBI single by Abel Nieves.
But that would be the last of any type of comeback as Kansas City grabbed the win with a final of 12-6.
T-Bones starter Barett Astin had a strong performance in the early innings, retiring eight straight in the second, third and fourth innings. He struck out six batters and gave up only one walk in six innings of work.
The T-Bones hit the road to close out the regular season and work towards clinching a playoff appearance. The first of the three-game series against the Gary SouthShore RailCats is at 4:10 p.m. Saturday.
Listen to all of the action with the voice of the T-Bones, Dan Vaughan Jr., at http://mixlr.com/t-bones-baseball/.
Season, group tickets, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale and can be purchased by visiting the box office at T-Bones Stadium. Call the box office at 913-328-5618 or purchase and print at www.tbonesbaseball.com. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
– Story from T-Bones