The Kansas City T-Bones (33-31) and the St. Paul Saints (40-26) started game two of the series on a Sunday evening hoping to finish the game, but with a rain delay, it got postponed to Monday evening.
With KC trailing 2-0 and looking for a series win it looked like it might be an uphill battle to win No. 1,000 for T-Bones manager Joe Calfapietra.
On Sunday the Saints took the lead in the bottom of the first on a Josh Allen two-run home run off of starting pitcher Henry Owens, bringing in Brady Shoemaker.
Saints starting pitcher Eddie Medina did not return to the game on Monday, but T-Bones left-hander Owens did.
When the game resumed on Monday Owens tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the second to send KC up to the plate in the top of the third inning.
Dylan Tice started Monday evening in the top of the third with a solo home run off pitcher Ryan Zimmerman, making it 2-1 in favor of St. Paul.
The T-Bones turned up the heat in the top of the sixth when Ramsey Romano doubled and then was followed by Tice, who hit his second home run, making it 3-2 Kansas City.
Daniel Nava started off the top of the ninth for the T-Bones with a solo home run off pitcher Chris Lee. Then, Shawn O’Malley hit a double that sent Casey Gillaspie home, making it 5-2 to provide the insurance runs for the T-Bones.
Brian Ellington worked a scoreless eighth, while Carlos Diaz worked around some base traffic to record his sixth save.
The winning pitcher was Henry Owens (3-2) for the Kansas City T-Bones, and the losing pitcher was Ryan Zimmerman (4-2) for the St. Paul Saints. Owens worked 5.1 over the two days and provided some much needed rest for the bullpen.
Game two also clinched a series win for Kansas City over St. Paul, their first regular season series win over the Saints in their last four series head to head. It was even more special as it marked the 1,000th regular-season win for manager Joe Calfapietra.
Game 2
The Kansas City T-Bones (33-32) could not hold on in the second game of the doubleheader with the St. Paul Saints (41-26), losing 6-3 in the final game of the wrap around series.
Kansas City got on the board first in the top of the first. Christopher Colabello hit a single that brought home Mason Davis, making it 1-0 off Benji Waite.
Later, in the top of the fourth Chris Colabello hit a home run for the T-Bones off pitcher Benji Waite, making it 2-0.
St. Paul took back the lead 4-2, in the bottom of the fourth. Blake Schmit hit a single that scored Brady Shoemaker. Then, Mike Aiello advanced to first on a hit by pitch by Dylan Baker that scored John Silviano. Then, a single by Dan Motl scored Schmit and Troy Alexander.
The T-Bones fought back in the top of the sixth when Daniel Nava hit a home run, making it 4-3.
However, the Saints furthered their lead 6-3, in the bottom of the sixth. Michael Lang hit a triple, scoring Motl and Aiello.
The winning pitcher was Benji Waite (1-1) for the St. Paul Saints and the losing pitcher was Dylan Baker (2-4) for the Kansas City T-Bones.
The Kansas City T-Bones will be home Tuesday, July 30, for a three-game series at JustBats field in Kansas City, Kansas, with the Sioux Falls Canaries with first pitch starting at 7:05 p.m. The game will be on the T-Bones Broadcast Network at http://mixlr.com/t-bones-baseball/ with Dan Vaughan on the call.
Tickets to all T-Bones home games can be purchased online by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke’s Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale.
