The tide of Monday night’s game changed as Kansas City scored four runs in the seventh and eighth innings, including an RBI double by Hunter Mense in the bottom of the eighth, and took the first game of the series against Sioux City, 5-4, at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
After the T-Bones twice grounded into bases loaded, inning-ending double plays, and trailed 4-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Kansas City’s offense once again loaded the bases with one out.
In the bottom of the eighth, Trevor Coleman singled and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Enrique Cruz. The next batter, Mense, drove a Plefka pitch to the opposite field for the RBI double.
“We didn’t get the timely hits we needed on two occasions when we had the bases loaded with one out, and grounded into two double plays, but the guys didn’t panic,” said T-Bones manager Kenny Hook. “Then, when we got into their bullpen in the seventh, our guys showed confidence and we capitalized on the chance.”
The Explorers took an early two-run lead in the first inning with two flubs in the field by the T-Bones. Sioux City’s Brian Bistagne and Peter Barrows both scored unearned runs as results of errors by Justin Bass and Devin Goodwin.
Kansas City (31-26) plays the second of a three-game series with Sioux City on Tuesday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling 913-328-5618.
