An eighth-inning rally by the Wichita Wingnuts allowed them to complete their second comeback victory in as many nights against the Kansas City T-Bones, as Wichita won, 7-6, Tuesday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
Kansas City starting pitcher Jordan Cooper gave up four runs and struck out three batters in six innings, before reliever Josh Tols came in during the seventh inning with Kansas City leading 6-4.
Tols gave up a leadoff walk to Martin Medina before allowing a single from Dustin Geiger. After walking the bases loaded, Tols gave up a single to Harrison Kain, which allowed Medina to score and cut Kansas City’s lead to one. Leo Vargas then knocked in Geiger with a base hit, tying the game at 6-6.
Things started off the same for Kansas City in the top of the ninth, when reliever Evan DeLuca (0-1), walked the leadoff batter, Zack Cox, who eventually advanced to third on consecutive wild pitches. That allowed Brent Clevlen to knock in Cox with a sacrifice fly, giving Wichita the decisive 7-6 lead.
Kansas City jumped out to a quick lead, sending nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first and coming away with three runs. Wichita, however, scored three of its own with two outs in the top of the second.
The T-Bones retook the lead in the third. After Jake Blackwood walked and Steve Swingle singled, Brett Wiley brought in Blackwood with a groundout to second, and Starlin Rodriguez knocked in Swingle. Kansas City went up 6-4 in the fourth on a leadoff home run by Tyler Massey.
Monday night, Wichita tied the game with four runs in the ninth inning before winning, 7-5, in 14 innings.
The T-Bones (8-12) will face Wichita (8-11) Wednesday morning at 11:05 for the final game of the series. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones