In dire need of a victory following an 0-4 start to the season, the Chillicothe Mudcats bats came to life in a thrilling 7-6 win over the Kansas City Monarchs at home Sunday night. With a season-high nine hits and seven stolen bases, the offense delivered time and again in a back-and-forth affair against an unceasing Monarchs club.
Kansas City had control of the game early. After four innings, they led Chillicothe 2-0, while their 31-year-old starting pitcher Travis Weidenbenner was in a stretch of retiring 11 consecutive Mudcat hitters.
That run came to an end in the fifth inning, when the Mudcats reached base six straight times before recording an out. They brought four runs home in the inning to take their first lead 4-2.
That advantage evaporated the next half inning when the Monarchs scored 2 in the sixth to tie it up 4-all. In the bottom of the sixth, an error put Chillicothe’s leadoff man aboard, who stole second before being driven in by Brock Falor to put the Mudcats back in front 5-4.
That score held until the 8th, when a bases-loaded wild pitch allowed Kansas City to tie it once again. In the bottom of the inning, Derin Doucet hit a leadoff single, and was replaced by pinch runner Rafael Calcaño who stole second. Frandie Fernandez delivered with a run-scoring double, and was brought home himself on the Mudcats first sacrifice in five games, a flyout and RBI from Clayton Eskra.
That insurance run to give the Mudcats a 7-5 lead proved to be the difference. Jordi Ventura was brought in to close the game in the ninth for his season debut on the mound. The Monarchs loaded the bases with one out, brought one run in on a sacrifice fly, before striking out to end the game 7-6 with the tying run stranded on second base.
The Mudcats earned their first win of the season by the narrowest of margins. Kansas City scored just six runs despite tallying 11 hits and 11 walks. In nine innings, the Monarchs left 17 runners on base. Now 1-4, Chillicothe makes the quick turnaround for a doubleheader in Nevada on Monday starting at 5 p.m.
Winning Pitcher: Nick Tampa (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Travis Weidenbenner
Save: Jordi Ventura (1)
Time of Game: 2:30
