By Brian Bruce

WORCESTER, Mass. -  The Kansas City T-Bones pounded out 15 hits, taking the series opener, 11-4, at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field on Thursday night.

One day after scoring 12 runs on 15 hits in a win over Newark, KC again ripped the ball all over the ballpark, including a two-run home run by Lee Cruz, his sixth in 31 games for KC.

Worcester briefly took a 2-1 lead with two runs on three hits in the fourth, including an RBI single by Tony Patane, but the T-Bones answered back with four runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth, and took a 9-2 lead. Cruz’s two-run shot to left center highlighted the fifth, and a two-out, two-run single by Brandon Jones highlighted the sixth.

T-Bones starter Brian Grening (8-4) worked eight innings, striking out five batters. Grening now has 86 strike outs on the season, which is tied for second – two behind the leader – in the American Association.

Enrique Cruz led the T-Bones 15-hit attack with a three-for-five night.

The win improves KC to 43-36 on the year, matching their most games above .500 this year. For game two of the series on Friday night, the T-Bones send right-hander Shaun Garceau (7-3; 2.93 ERA) to the mound. The Tornadoes counter with lefty Michael Gedman (2-3; 4.71). The game can be heard on 1660-AM (the KMBZ Business Channel) and online at www.tbonesbaseball.com.