After walking two batters intentionally to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Kansas City T-Bones (19-28) closer Andy Shipman (1-3) issued a free pass to Edwin Bellorin to give the Wichita Wingnuts (26-22) a 7-6 walk-off victory in Wichita, KS on Saturday night.
 
Kansas City took the first lead of the game against Junior Guerra in the top of the second on a three-run home run by Jimmy Mojica, his eighth of the season. The Wingnuts pulled within one in the fourth against T.J. Large on a two-run double from Josh Workman, making the score 3-2.

Large began the fifth for the T-Bones but left with two outs in the frame as Wichita rallied for three runs on two hits and an error to gain a 5-3 advantage. Martin Dewald took over for Large and got the final out of the inning before adding a scoreless sixth.

Large surrendered five runs on five hits over four and two-thirds innings. Kansas City plated another run off Guerra in the sixth to make the score 5-4. The Wingnuts’ right-hander was charged with four runs on five hits in five-plus innings of work. Neither starter factored into the decision.

Kyle Dahman threw a scoreless bottom of the seventh for the T-Bones to keep the deficit at one entering the eighth inning. After a leadoff single by Ray Sadler, Kala Ka’aihue connected for a two-run home run off reliever Kendy Batista to give Kansas City a 6-5 lead. Dahman returned for a scoreless bottom half of the frame before giving way to Shipman in the ninth.

Ryan Patterson opened the bottom of the ninth with a bloop single and advanced to second on a stolen base. Patterson then moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt before Shipman struck out Brent Clevlen for the first out of the inning. The next batter, Juan Richardson, tripled home Patterson to tie the game at six. Shipman intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases before walking Bellorin on five pitches to give the win to the Wingnuts.

It was Shipman’s fourth blown save in 12 opportunities this season. Marcos Tabata (1-0) struck out two of the three batters he faced in the top of the ninth to earn the victory for Wichita.

The two teams now make the short trip to Kansas City, KS for a two-game set at CommunityAmerica Ballpark beginning Sunday night. Both games of the series will begin at 7:05 p.m. Join the T-Bones as we celebrate our nation’s independence with HUGE Post-Game Firework shows presented by Verizon on both Sunday and Monday night. Call 913-328-5618 or visit www.tbonesbaseball.com to secure your seats today!