KANSAS CITY, Kan. – After a heavy dose of rain in the metro area the last 24 hours all it took was “chamber of commerce weather” and the normal Kansas City T-Bones recipe for success, to help end a two game losing streak , while beating the Cleburne Railroaders 9-4 Tuesday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The first part of that recipe was the long ball. Kevin Keyes launched his league leading 24^th home run in the bottom of the first off Dylan Mouzakes, a two run shot to right, to make it 2-0 Kansas City. Keyes added a pair of RBIs to his team leading 77 total also good for second in the American Association.

Cleburne would get a solo shot of their own in the top of the third from Maikol Gonzalez off Billy Waltrip, to cut the lead to 2-1 but Cedric Hunter answered on the first pitch of the home half of the third with a solo blast to right and it was 3-1 Kansas City.

Billy Waltrip continued to struggle for Kansas City in his third start since being acquired from Texas in a trade on August 11^th. In the fourth he gave up a single to Pichi Balet and a one out walk to Blake Grant-Parks. Waltrip got the second out on a strike out of Hunter Courson but Cleburne would not waste the opportunity.

Alex Polston would double to right to get one run home to cut the lead to 3-2. Jackson Lowery came into the game an issued a pair of wild pitches to tie it up and eventually give Cleburne the 4-3 lead.      

The T-Bones then came right back and took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Zane Chavez and Jordan Edgerton each got on base with a single then Chantz Mack tied the game with an RBI single at 4-4. With runners at the corners Cedric Hunter then hit a sac fly to left to give the T-Bones the lead.

In the fifth Cedric Hunter had a big two out single to center to score a pair and give Kansas City some breathing room at 8-4. Chantz Mack had a single in the sixth to make it 9-4 in favor of Kansas City but that was as close the Railroaders would get.

The bull pen, which has been the other big constant this season, would retire 10 straight and was in lock down mode once Kansas City got the lead. The pen allowed just two hits and held the Railroaders in check getting the win. Dylan Mouzakes (6-7) was charged with the loss while Jackson Lowery (2-1) got the win for Kansas City.

The win ended a two-game losing streak for Kansas City and kept the team a half game back in the American Association Wild Card race. Gary still has the lead followed by Kansas City and Fargo-Moorhead. The two teams play game two of the three game series Wednesday night at 7:05 pm at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.  RHP Patrick Mincey (8-7, 3.33) will take the mound for Cleburne while RHP Alex Blackford (0-1, 4.50) will go for Kansas City.  

For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the T-Bones Media Relations Department at 913-328-5639. Tickets are available online, by calling (913) 328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.

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