By MATT FULKS, tbonesbaseball.com
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Kansas City scored five runs in the eighth inning, including three off a bases-loaded triple by Danny Richar, and beat Sioux City 8-5 in front of 5,641 Wednesday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Sioux City, protecting a 4-3 lead in the eighth, brought in former major leaguer Alex Burnett for only his second appearance in 2014. He promptly gave up five runs on four hits, including a triple with the bases loaded by Richar, that blew things open for Kansas City, giving the T-Bones an 8-4 advantage.
Kansas City had the lead early. The second inning started harmlessly enough for Sioux City starter John Straka, retiring Richar and Nick Schwaner in order. But Darrell Hudson and Danny Masiello then drew back-to-back walks before Robby Kuzdale lined an RBI double off shortstop Nate Samson’s glove and into left field, scoring Hudson. Bryan Sabatella then legged out an RBI infield single that scored Masiello and extended the Kansas City lead to 2-0.
Sioux City would respond in the fourth. Andres Perez opened the inning with a single and Rene Tosoni followed with a booming double that carried over Sabatella’s outstretched glove in right field and rolled to the wall. Samson then struck an RBI double of his own that scored Perez and Tosoni and evened the score at 2-2. Samson would advance to third, tagging on a fly ball and come around to score on an RBI groundout by Peter Barrows that gave Sioux City the lead.
The Explorer lead was short-lived, however, as the T-Bones answered the following inning. Richar stroked a leadoff double into centerfield and came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Vladimir Frias, tying the game at 3-3.
Perez finally broke the tie in the eighth for the Explorers with a solo home run off Kansas City reliever Jared Messer, knocking it off the “fair pole” in left field. The T-Bones would then follow with their five-run frame, taking the lead and never looking back. Kris Regas (2-1), who entered the game in the eighth, picked up the win for Kansas City. Burnett (1-1) took the loss.
Kansas City climbs to 15-17 with the win, while Sioux City falls to 12-21, tied for the worst record in the league. The T-Bones and Explorers conclude their series Thursday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
