A pair of five run innings helped spark the Kansas City T-Bones to a 12-4 win over the Lincoln SaltDogs Wednesday night at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Trailing 2-0 early into the third inning and facing Lincoln “ace” Carlos Pimentel, the T-Bones looked like it might be an uphill battle. That all changed when Kevin Keyes launched a bases-clearing double off Pimentel to tie the game at two in the third inning.
The SaltDogs would take the lead on a single by Matty Johnson in the home half of the third, but the T-Bones would take control of the game and chase Pimentel in the fifth. Omar Garcia and Marcus Lemon each had first pitch singles with the runners moving to second and third on the Lemon single on a high throw to third from right fielder for Lincoln, Randolph Oduber.
Kevin Keyes then singled to tie the game. Joe Jackson then gave Kansas City the lead with a single behind him to make it 4-3. Kyle Petty nailed a double to the left center field gap to score two more and the score was 6-3.
The final blow off Pimentel came courtesy of Leo Rojas, who drove in the seventh run, and the T-Bones never looked back.
Oduber hit a solo home run in the sixth, but the T-Bones would send up 11 batters to the plate in the seventh, scoring five more times off of Lincoln reliever Matt Portland.
Jordan Edgerton had an RBI single and Garcia added another on a base hit, making the score 9-4. Lemon and Keyes each had bases loaded walks, and Jackson drove another home with a fielder’s choice to give Kansas City a 12-4 advantage.
Calvin Drummond (3-1) went six innings, scattering six hits and four earned runs to get the win while Pimentel (5-1) was charged with his first loss of the season. Luis Paula worked a scoreless frame for the T-Bones and rookie Zach Morgenstern tossed another two scoreless relief innings to close out the game.
The two teams will play game three of the three game series Thursday night with the first pitch scheduled for 6:45 pm. Lincoln will send out RHP Seth Webster while the T-Bones will turn to RHP Gabe Perez.
The T-Bones return home Monday, July 3, to face Sioux Falls in the first game of a three-game series and a seven-game homestand.
Tickets are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.
– Story from T-Bones