Home Runs Propel T-Bones to 6-5 Victory in Series Opener

July 10, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


WICHITA, KS (July 10, 2015) - The Kansas City T-Bones were the first team to sweep a series from the Wingnuts since July of 2012 when they won all three games between the clubs in Kansas City in late June. The T-Bones used three home runs, including a game-winning blast from Adam Bailey in the seventh, to win their fourth straight in the season series by a 6-5 score.

The T-Bones (25-17) made the first mark on the scoreboard in the very first inning against Omar Bencomo. Nate Tenbrink reached on an infield single and moved to third on Jake Blackwood's opposite field single to right. Bailey came to the plate for the first time and bounced a ball toward second base. Starlin Rodriguez picked it cleanly, but was off target on his throw to second which caused Luis Hernandez to pull his foot from the base and allowed a run to score.

The Wingnuts (25-21) were not unfazed by the early deficit and took the lead in the second. Matt Padgett began the frame with a sharp single and scored on John Nester's triple off the wall to tie the score. The next batter, Hernandez, lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Nester to trot in and gave Wichita a 2-1 advantage.

Home runs were the story in a four-run third inning for Kansas City. Ryan Cavan singled to open the inning, but was immediately picked off of first base by the lightning-quick move of Bencomo. Tenbrink worked a walk in front of Blackwood who knocked his sixth home run of the year to push the T-Bones back in front 3-2. Harrison Kain dropped a fly ball deep in right field that allowed Bailey to reach third just before Robby Kuzdale also ripped his sixth home run of the year.

For a second time the Wingnuts were up to the challenge of playing from behind. A walk to T.J. Mittelstaedt and a single from Joash Brodin put two on base with one down in the bottom of the third.  Padgett smoked a sinking line drive to left that Tenbrink dove for and let get past him to the wall. Both runners scored and Padgett raced all the way to third with a triple. Hernandez was able to tie the score with his single before the Nuts left the bases loaded when Espinosa grounded out to first.

The score remained deadlocked until the top half of the seventh inning when Daniel Bennett (0-5) took the mound to face the middle of the lineup for Kansas City. He induced Blackwood into a groundball to short, but Bailey drove a fastball over the wall beneath the video board in left center to push the T-Bones ahead by a run.

The Wingnuts stranded a pair in the seventh inning and were retired in order in both the eighth and ninth innings to fall short. Starter Bobby Doran picked up his seventh win of the season by working through the sixth inning and allowing five runs on eight hits. Fernando Hernandez closed the door for his eighth save.

Padgett and Brodin were the only Wingnuts with multiple hits while Blackwood and James Boddicker each accomplished the feat for Kansas City. Blackwood led all hitters with three.

The Wingnuts will look to even the series in game two on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.  A limited amount of Wingnuts Camouflage Hats will be passed out at the front gate thanks to Midwest HuntFest. RHP Jon Link (1-0) will battle with T-Bones' RHP Casey Barnes (2-2). For information on season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Wingnuts' main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.



American Association Stories from July 10, 2015


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