by Luke Schrock
The Kansas City T-Bones swept the doubleheader against the Lincoln Saltdogs, 4-2 and 1-0, thanks to some stellar defense.
Game one on Wednesday night at T-Bones Stadium was a slow start offensively until the sixth inning when Lincoln put up a run to break the silence. Cody Regis was responsible for the first run with an RBI double to score Christian Ibarra.
The T-Bones weren’t far behind as they put up four to answer, and that is all they needed to put the game away.
Chris Colabello hit an RBI single to score Dylan Tice, tying the game at one. Casey Gillaspie singled as well, scoring Roy Morales; then Omar Carrizales got his first hit and RBI with the T-Bones with a hard-hit double to bring in Chris Colabello.
Christian Correa brought the finishing touch to the onslaught, getting hit by a pitch to score Casey Gillaspie.
Winning pitcher Akeem Bostick (2-0) let up his first run in a T-Bones uniform and earned his first quality start since joining the team. Bostick now has a 0.82 ERA after two starts. Hunter Smith came in the seventh to close out the game, letting up Lincoln’s second run but holding on for his second save of the season.
Losing Pitcher Ricky Knapp (4-9) went the full game, pitching six innings with only one walk but letting go eight hits on four runs. Knapp pitched a good ballgame until the sixth inning hit, and Colabello started what a four-run bottom of the sixth.
Game two was quiet overall in the 1-0 win over the Saltdogs with eight total hits between the two teams.
Winning pitcher Jose Mesa Jr. (3-2) earned his third straight win in his last four starts. Mesa finished the night with six innings, three hits, two walks and eight strikeouts.
Robert Calvano came in in the seventh and completed the combined shutout with no problems— one strikeout and no hits. Losing Pitcher Tyler Anderson put in three good innings for the Saltdogs, giving up only three hits and no runs.
KCK is now tied with Sioux City for second place after Sioux City took down the southern division first place Cleburne Railroaders 5-3.
Kansas City plays game three of the four-game series Thursday at 11:05 a.m. for a day game against Lincoln at JustBats Field at T-Bones Stadium. Catch all the action live on the T-Bones Broadcast Network, http://mixlr.com/t-bones-baseball/.
Tickets to all T-Bones home games are on sale online or 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.
- Story from T-Bones