KANSAS CITY, Kan. – It would take 10 innings and a squeeze bunt by the last batter in the lineup, but the T-Bones came away with a 7-6 victory over Sioux City in the rubber match Thursday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Darrell Hudson sparked the extra-inning thriller with a leadoff double in the bottom of the 10th. He was moved over to third by a Brian Erie sacrifice bunt. That’s when Robby Kuzdale, the ninth hitter in Kansas City’s lineup, placed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt toward first, scoring Hudson.
Sioux City jumped on starter Pat Doyle early taking a 1-0 lead in the first. Andres Perez singled a one-out chopper toward short and was brought home two batters later when Nate Samson sneaked a single past shortstop.
Kansas City answered in the home half of the first. David Espinosa sliced a one-out triple into right center and was brought home on a single by Byron Wiley.
The T-Bones got to starter Kohei Tsukada in the second. Kuzdale was hit by a pitch following T.J. Mittelstaedt and Erie singles loading the bases for Bryan Sabatella, who lined a two-RBI single to center. Kuzdale would eventually score on a balk by Tsukada and Sabatella capped the four-run inning when he scored on a single by Espinosa.
Doyle surrendered the four-run lead in the top of the third. He gave up a one-out solo home run to Tommy Mendonca which spiraled a chaotic inning. A throwing error by Mittelstaedt and a wild pitch on Doyle’s second strikeout kept the Explorers in it long enough to string three consecutive singles together and even the score at 5-5.
With the win, the T-Bones now have a 16-17 record. They kick off a three-game series at home against Laredo on Friday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
