The Gary SouthShore offense struck early with six runs in the first two innings en route to an 8-6 win over Kansas City on Sunday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
Gary SouthShore wasted no time against Kansas City starter Mike Nannini (1-1). After Jon Jones had an RBI groundout that scored J.D. Pulfer and moved Drew Martinez to second base, Michael Vaughn hit a home run that gave the RailCats a 3-0 lead. Vaughn’s home run, his second, was the sixth homer for the RailCats this season.
The T-Bones scored in the bottom of the first, but then Gary added three more runs in the second inning, thanks largely to three doubles. Ryan Brockett hit an RBI double to center field that scored Roger Bernal, giving the RailCats a 4-1 lead. Three batters later Jon Jones hit a two RBI double to center that scored Pulfer and Tillman Pugh, extending Gary’s lead to 6-1.
In the fifth inning, trailing 7-2, the T-Bones showed signs of life behind an RBI single from Robby Kuzdale that scored Jake Blackwood, cutting the lead to 7-3. The next batter, Vladimir Frias, hit an RBI single that scored Adam Bailey from second base and cut Gary’s lead to 7-4.
The T-Bones were threatening to more add runs in the seventh inning, but Gary’s right fielder Pugh robbed Frias of a two-run home run by catching the ball as he flipped over the right field wall and held the RailCats’ lead at 8-4.
The T-Bones did get a two-run homer in the ninth inning by Kuzdale that cut the deficit to 8-6.
The T-Bones (29-21) will continue their four-game series against the RailCats (26-28) Monday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark with the first pitch at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the box office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
To see a video of the over-the-wall catch by the RailCats that took a home run away from Vladimir Frias, visit https://youtu.be/-OqOaKKMBlo.
– Story from T-Bones
