Author: Ward

The Kansas City T-Bones used a strong defensive outing and timely hitting in Saturday night’s 6-2 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

More than once the defense came up big, keeping the Saltdogs from clawing back in it, but one stood out in particular. The Saltdogs were threatening with the bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh, when T-Bones reliever Zach Fowler snagged a liner from Kevin Howard and tossed it over to third for the double play. Fowler then struck out the final batter and got out of the seventh-inning jam.

In spite of getting only six hits off Lincoln pitchers, the T-Bones cracked the scoreboard with two runs off only one hit. Right fielder Bryan Sabatella smoked a leadoff single through the left side and scored when left fielder T.J. Mittelstaedt reached on a fielder’s choice. Third baseman Nick Giarraputo was hit by a pitch and scored the second run of the inning on a ground out.

Kansas City tacked on two more runs in the fourth on a pair of singles from Sabatella and Robby Kuzdale, and took a 4-1 lead over the Saltdogs. Sabatella and Kuzdale were the only T-Bones players with more than one hit. They had two apiece. Kuzdale scored Kansas City’s first earned run of the game in the seventh, on a base hit to center by Danny Richar.

Pat Doyle (1-0) struck out two, gave up two runs and nine hits, in five innings.

With the win, the T-Bones now have their first winning record of the year at 2-1. They finish a four-game homestand against Lincoln on Sunday night at 5:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

After allowing 11 runs in the first game of the season, the T-Bones quieted the bats of the Lincoln Saltdogs, winning 3-2 Friday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, Kansas City, Kan.

Starting pitcher Rick Zagone (1-0) was dominant for the T-Bones, going six innings and giving up one earned run and one walk while striking out three. Fifty-one of his 75 pitches were thrown for strikes.

“We wanted five innings out of our starters, and he gave us six solid innings out there,” T-Bones manager John Masserelli said of Zagone.

The T-Bones took a 2-0 lead in the first when the second batter of the inning, Byron Wiley, doubled in David Espinosa against Lincoln starter Eric Brooks (0-1).

Two batters later, Bryan Sabatella hit a single that scored Wiley. Kansas City added a needed insurance run in the seventh inning when Brian Erie hit an RBI single that scored T.J. Mittlestaedt.

Chris Squires notched is first save of the year with a perfect ninth inning.

The game, which last 2 hours and 28 minutes, was a far cry from the season opener that started Thursday night and ended Friday night with an 11-7 T-Bones loss to Lincoln in 16 innings.

That game was suspended shortly after midnight because of the American Association’s curfew rule, and finished Friday. Total playing time was 5 hours, 30 minutes.

The T-Bones will face off with Lincoln at 7:05 on Saturday night in the third game of the four-game series. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

– Story from T-Bones