For the second game in a row, the Wichita Wingnuts were unable to hold a lead, this time giving up three-runs in the ninth to fall 9-8. Sunday evening the team took a two-run lead into the ninth against Fargo-Moorhead, giving up two-runs and then falling in the 10th. On Monday, the Wingnuts gave up three-walks in the ninth, falling to the Kansas City T-Bones. Omar Garcia drove in 3-runs for Kansas City and both Chantz Mack and Leonardo Rojas scored 3-runs apiece.

The T-Bones took the lead in the bottom of the first against Eddie Medina. Garcia singled to start the inning and moved to third when he stole two bases. With one down, Kevin Keyes grounded out, scoring Garcia to make it 1-0.

In the second, the Wingnuts took the lead. Matt Chavez singled with one down and the red -hot Brennen Salgado drilled a two-run homer to make it 2-1. That was his second home run of the season. That extended his hitting streak to five-games and was his second home run in the streak.

Kansas City tied the score in the bottom half of the inning. Medina retired the first two hitters of the frame, but Rojas kept the inning alive by doubling over the left field wall. Eddie Newton followed with a single that scored Rojas to even the contest.

The game was tied until the fourth, when the Wichita Wingnuts retook the lead. T.J. Mittelstaedt got the inning going with a single and moved to second on a single by Chavez. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Mittelstaedt came home on a single by Salgado. Chavez scored when Martin Medina singled to extend the lead to 4-2.

In the bottom of the inning the T-Bones responded once again, plating one more run. Chantz Mack led off the inning with his first home run of the season to put the team down by a run.

It stayed a one-run game into the sixth when the Wingnuts extended the lead to four. Salgado delivered his third hit of the game, a double to left field and he moved to third on a single by Zac Fisher. Leo Vargas stepped to the plate and, on a 2-2 pitch, he clubbed it over the left field wall for his first homer of the season. That made the score 7-3.

In the eighth, Wichita extended their lead to five. With one down, Richard Prigatano went the other way for his second homer of the season.

Following the three early runs allowed, Eddie Medina pitched extremely well over the next three-innings. The right-hander went 7-innings, allowing 8-hits, a walk, and 3-runs, while striking out 4. He left with a commanding lead, but the bullpen could not hold it.

Trailing 8-3 in the bottom of the eighth, the T-Bones got three of those runs back. Josh Goossen-Brown relieved and struck out Chase McDonald to begin the inning. Mack walked before Rojas singled. Eddie Newton then singled to center to load the bases.

That brought another call to the bullpen as James Campbell came on. However, he could not stop the bleeding. Garcia greeted the new Wingnuts reliever with a single that scored both Mack and Rojas and the lead was just three. Marcus Lemon then singled to score Newton and the deficit for Kansas City was just two.

In the ninth, the Wingnuts sent Mike Devine to the hill looking to close out the game. He was greeted with a single by Joe Jackson before McDonald singled. Mack followed with a double that brought home Jackson to make it 8-7. Rojas was intentionally walked before Newton grounded out to third. The fielder’s choice gunned the runner at the plate but the bases were still loaded. Garcia then worked the count full before drawing a walk to tie the score. That brought Lemon to the plate who also worked the count full before he would draw ball-four. That would score Rojas with the winning run and the Kansas City T-Bones were the 9-8 victors.

Marcus Lemon finished 2-5 with 2-RBI and a walk. Omar Garcia was 2-4 with a run and 3-RBI. Chantz Mack was 3-4 with 3-runs and 2-RBI, and Luis Rojas was 2-4 with 3-runs scored. The Wingnuts were led by Brennen Salgado, who was 3-5 with 2-runs and 2-RBI and Matt Chavez was 3-5 with 2-runs scored.

These two teams will square off again tomorrow. Jordan Cooper (2-0, 0.00) looks to extend his 20-innings scoreless streak. He will be opposed by Chris Perry (0-1, 6.58). First pitch is 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier