Although he’d given up a base hit in the second, Kansas City starter Jared Messer faced the minimum through the first 3 2/3 innings. Jake Taylor ended that streak and scored the first run of the game with his 13th home run of the season with two outs in the fourth. That put the Canaries ahead 1-0.

 

After Messer sent the Canaries down in order in the fifth, he allowed a lead-off walk to Ethan Chapman in the sixth. Chapman swiped second and was sent to third when Taylor singled. J.C. Linares singled, scoring Chapman, giving the Canaries a 2-0 lead. Messer (5-4) then walked Blake Schmit, loading the bases, before Cameron Monger sent a sacrifice fly to deep right that scored Taylor.

 

Sioux Falls starter Joe Bircher held the T-Bones in check. Bircher (6-6) tossed 7 scoreless innings, scattering six hits and no walks. He also tossed eight strikeouts, including four straight. Kansas City had runners in scoring position in three consecutive innings — third, fourth and fifth — but was unable to score. In the third, Tyler Massey grounded into an inning-ending double play. In the fourth, Starlin Rodriguez reached third after leading off the inning with a single but was ultimately stranded 90 feet away. In the fifth, Nolan Johnson doubled with two outs. He was sent home on a single by Massey, but Canaries right fielder Aaron Owen sent a dart home that beat Johnson to the plate.

 

Kansas City finally got on the board in the bottom of the eighth. Trailing 4-0 with Massey, who reached on a fielder’s choice, at third base, Jake Blackwood picked up the RBI when he grounded an infield single behind second base.

 

In bottom of the ninth, Sioux Falls reliever Madison Boer walked two T-Bones, bringing the tying run in the form of Massey to the plate with two outs. Boer (7) allowed a run when Massey singled to right and brought in one of those walks, Vladimir Frias, cutting the Canaries’ lead in half. But Boer ended the game by striking out Rodriguez. That gave Sioux Falls pitchers 12 strikeouts in the game.

 

Kansas City (41-56) continues this four-game season finale against Sioux Falls (38-59) Saturday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.