RedHawks use wild finish to clip Kansas City

FARGO - Tuesday night was another journey into the unexplainable for the RedHawks.

Fargo-Moorhead scored the winning run on a "walk-off" strike out with two outs in the 10th inning. That unlikely play lifted the RedHawks to a 6-5 victory against Kansas City in American Association baseball.

"I don't know if I've seen any," RedHawks manager Doug Simunic said, referring to the walk-off strikeout. "Crazy things happen and it's hard to put words to exactly what's going on."

The RedHawks (29-21) have won eight consecutive games, sweeping their four-game series against Kansas City. F-M has won 20 of its last 24 games.

"They're just believing in themselves and having fun and enjoying each other," Simunic said of his team.

For a second consecutive night, a strike out with two outs in an inning proved to be a pivotal play for the RedHawks. On Monday night, F-M scored two runs off a two-out strikeout (on a pitch in the dirt) in the ninth inning. Those two runs, which came after it appeared Kansas City had the game won, tied the score at 9-9 and forced extra innings. F-M rallied for a 10-9 victory in 10 innings.

On Tuesday night, RedHawks second baseman Carlo Cota struck out with a runner at third base and the scored tied at 5-5, but the pitch was in the dirt, giving Cota a chance to advance to first base. Kansas City catcher Bubby Williams threw the ball to first, but was off target, pulling Trevor Coleman off the bag. Ryan Delgado scored on the errant throw to set off an F-M celebration on the infield.

"Weird stuff is starting to happen and sometimes you make your own luck," said RedHawks center fielder Nic Jackson, shaking his head. "We put ourselves in some good situations."

Kansas City appeared in control late in the game after right-handed starter Lucas Irvine pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits. F-M didn't get its first hit until the fifth inning.

"We were looking bad for the whole game," Simunic said. "Their guy was pitching a whale of a game."

Jackson started the F-M comeback in the eighth inning. Zach Penprase and Buddy Sosnoskie started the home half of the eighth with back-to-back singles. Jackson then followed with a towering three-run home run to right field that cut the T-Bones lead to 5-3.

"That's a big three-run homer," Simunic said.

The RedHawks added two more runs in the ninth inning that forced extra innings. Third baseman Eric Campbell capped the rally with a two-out RBI double that scored Sosnoskie from third base. Sosnoskie's run tied the score at 5-5.

That set the stage for the crazy finish.

"It makes it so you never ever mentally give up," Jackson said of the late-inning magic. "You never know. ... It's a lot of fun to come out and know you have a chance no matter what."

The RedHawks have an off day today before they open a four-game home series against Grand Prairie, starting Thursday. Grand Prairie (37-14) has the best record in the American Association.

NOTES: Right-handed pitcher Aaron Shafer is scheduled to start Thursday against Grand Prairie. ... RedHawks first baseman Marcos Rodriguez wasn't with the team Tuesday as he went home for a meeting to help establish his citizenship. Rodriguez is scheduled to return to the team for Thursday's game against Grand Prairie. Ryan Stovall played first base Tuesday in place of Rodriguez.

KANSAS CITY REDHAWKS

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Bass cf 5 1 2 1 Pnprse ss 4 1 1 0

Gdwin ss 5 1 1 2 Ssnskie rf 5 2 2 0

Jones lf 5 0 1 0 Jcksn cf 4 1 3 4

Sadlr rf 4 1 1 0 Cmpll 3b 5 0 2 1

Clman 1b 4 0 0 0 Gaston lf 5 0 0 0

Cruz 3b 4 0 1 1 Dlgado dh 4 1 0 0

Mense dh 4 1 2 1 Jnnngs c 5 0 0 0

Williams c 4 1 2 0 Stvll 1b 4 1 2 0

Helms 2b 3 0 0 0 Cota 2b 5 0 0 0

Totals 38 5 10 5 Totals 41 6 10 5

KC 100 002 200 0-5 10 2

F 000 000 032 1-6 10 1

E-Cruz (5), Williams (4). 2B-Bass (10), Sadler (5), Williams (5), Campbell (2), Stovall (7). 3B-Jones (2), Williams (3), Penprase (3). HR-Goodwin (8), Mense (2), Jackson (7). CS-Mense (1). SB-Penprase (21), Jackson (12). LOB-Kansas City 5, RedHawks 10.

KANSAS CITY

IP H R ER BB SO

Irvine 7 3 0 0 1 6

Mitchell 0 4 3 3 0 0

Kent 2 3 2 2 1 4

Mehlich, L Xc 0 1 0 1 1

REDHAWKS

IP H R ER BB SO

Burnside 6Zc 5 4 4 2 3

Zenko Xc 2 1 1 0 1

Harris 2 2 0 0 0 2

Fuqua Xc 1 0 0 0 1

Boleska, W Zc 0 0 0 0 1

Umpires-Home: Hassen. First: Anderson. Third: Branin. Time-3:14. A-3,771.

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