Second baseman Sean Henry hit a three-run home run to left field in the 7th inning, his first of the season, to cap a four-RBI night as Kansas City topped the El Paso Diablos 9-4 on Monday night in front of a Memorial Day crowd of 2,462 at Cohen Stadium.
T-Bones right-hander Josh Rainwater earned the win in his third start of the season, improving to 1-2.
He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits. He walked one, struck out three, and saw his ERA drop from 11.00 to 6.75.
The T-Bones scored one run in the second to take an early 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by left-fielder Justin Bass. Kala Ka’aihue, fresh off of the 7-day disabled list, led off the inning and smoked the first pitch he saw from Colin Allen to left for a single. He scored on the sac fly as Bass picked up his team-leading ninth RBI of the season.
KC put the game out of reach in the seventh inning. Rookie right-hander Cody Railsback entered the game and promptly walked shortstop Jose Duran and center fielder Gus Milner to start the frame. He then left a fastball out over the plate to Henry, who deposited it over the left field wall to make the score 7-1.
El Paso scored one run in the seventh and two in the eighth, then loaded the bases with one out in the ninth with Kansas City leading 9-4.
But, right-hander and Liberty, MO native Lucas Irvine wriggled out of the jam, striking out Frichter swinging on three pitches, then inducing a game-ending 4-3 groundout by Diablos third baseman Uriak Marquez.
The win is Kansas City’s fourth straight and improves the ballclub to a perfect 4-0 on the current six-game road trip in Texas. The T-Bones now sit at 6-5 on the year, the first time they have been above .500 in 2012.
KC looks for its fifth straight win on Tuesday night at Cohen Stadium with the first pitch set for 8:05 Central Time.
The T-Bones send right-hander Nick Singleton (1-1; 9.90) to the mound, while the Diablos counter with right-hander Osvaldo Rodriguez (1-1; 8.80).
