By EMILY PARK
tbonesbaseball.com

The Kansas City T-Bones scored nine runs in a record-breaking inning and went on to beat the Lincoln Saltdogs 14-10 on Monday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

In the bottom of the third inning, after going down 4-0 on a Lincoln grand slam by Ian Gac, the T-Bones had five home runs on eight hits, and scored nine runs against starter Matt Bywater (0-1) and reliever Eddie McKiernan. Ray Sadler, Matt Padgett and Trevor Coleman went back-to-back-to-back against Bywater. Then, with a runner on base, Devin Goodwin greeted McKiernan with a two-run home run. Three batters later, Justin Bass hit a two-run homer. The five home runs set both a club and an American Association record. The previous league record was three by Sioux Falls on June 19, 2010.

“I guess you can say we broke out offensively,” T-Bones manager Kenny Hook said, laughing. “I’ve never seen five home runs in an inning, but I’m proud that our guys were able to set the league record. This is a good offensive club and I think we started to show a glimpse of that tonight.”

Bywater struck out five of the T-Bones’ six outs leading up to the third inning, when the game remained scoreless. The Saltdogs fastened a lead with a two-out grand slam from Gac.  

The T-Bones answered the call in the bottom of the third with a single from Kennard Jones followed by a Bass double. With runners at second and third, Brandon Jones grounded into a sacrifice out that scored Kennard Jones. Then, with one out, Sadler hit a two-run home run into the Lincoln bullpen. Padgett and Coleman followed with back-to-back solo home runs, before Goodwin and Bass delivered two-run shots that gave the T-Bones a 9-4 lead.

The T-Bones and Saltdogs stayed quiet until the sixth inning, when Kansas City starter Aaron Tullo (1-0) gave up one run.

Kansas City answered in the bottom of the sixth when Brandon Jones led off with a double, followed by a single by Sadler. Jairo Perez scored Jones and Sadler before Felix Molina recorded his first hit of the game – every starter had at least one hit for the night – that gave the T-Bones a 13-5 lead.   

The Saltdogs chipped back before Jhonny Montoya came on in the ninth and picked up his second save after recording the final out.

The T-Bones and Saltdogs will play the second game of the series on Tuesday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at Community America Ballpark at 913-328-5618.