KC wins wild game over Houston to stay alive
Posted Aug 4, 2020
A day after recording two hits and no runs in a loss to Hays, the Kansas City Club All-Star rebounded with 13 hits and 11 runs in an 11-10 win against the Houston MVP Prospects.
Tuesday’s elimination game went back and forth and came down to which team got the last at bats. That team happened to be Kansas City, who survives and advances at the NBC World Series, while Houston is the first team eliminated from the tournament.
KC manager Dale Reed liked the aggression from his team on Tuesday night, compared to a more conservative approach he saw in Monday’s loss.
“We looked at a lot of strikes yesterday without singing,” Reed said. “Today we came in and wanted to swing at those strikes. Today, we were a lot more aggressive at the plate.”
Kansas City and Houston went back and forth from the get-go. When the All-Stars scored a run in the bottom of the first, Houston responded with a run in the top of the second.
The Prospects seemed to blow the game open in the top of the third by pushing across six runs, but the All-Stars scored seven runs over the third and fourth innings.
“It was a really exciting game,” Reed said. “These guys competed and showed up today.”
Houston regained the lead in the seventh with two runs, but Kansas City answered right back and tied the game at 10. Both teams went down quietly in the eighth — a rarity — and Houston went three up and three down in the top of the ninth.
Kansas City was determined in the bottom of the ninth to keep its summer alive.
Brandon Pasley led off with a walk, Jacob Butash reached base by an error, then Brevon Lee loaded the bases with a bunt single. With the bases loaded and no outs, Dayvin Johnson drew a full-count walk to win the game.
The two teams combined for 21 runs, 24 hits, and seven errors. It was not the prettiest game, but it was competitive, which is exactly what you can expect in an elimination game.
KC will look to keep its NBC World Series run alive on Wednesday against Hutchinson/Liberal at Hobart-Detter Field. Game time is to be announced.
“We have to continue to compete and play hard,” Reed said.
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