The Kansas City T-Bones saw a one-run lead erased in the ninth inning, before falling 7-4 to Fargo-Moorhead in front of 5,016 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Saturday night in Kansas City, Kan.
Clinging to a 4-3 lead, relief pitcher Chris Squires was three outs away from notching his second save. He gave up a leadoff triple to Tim Alberts who was later brought home as the tying run on an error by Vladimir Frias.
Manager John Massarelli then called on pitcher Chris Squires (1-1) with two on and one out. Squires surrendered a two-RBI double to Sawyer Carroll, and an RBI single to Ronnie Bourquin in the first two batters he saw. That’s all the RedHawks needed.
“You can’t have mental and defensive lapses late in the game or it’s going to cost you,” said Massarelli, whose T-Bones are now 4-6.
The T-Bones scored all four of their runs in the third. Trailing 2-0 with two outs and the bases loaded, Bryan Sabatella and Nick Giarraputo ripped back-to-back two-RBI singles, giving Kansas City a 4-2 lead.
Matt Smith made his first start in a T-Bones uniform. Smith, who left with a lead after five innings, gave up three runs off seven hits. The RedHawks got to Smith quickly, though, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. They tacked on another run in the top of the third after Zach Penprase tripled into left field and was brought home on a sacrifice fly. C.J. Retherford clobbered a solo shot in the top of the fourth over the left field wall cutting the deficit to one run.
Kansas City and Fargo are scheduled to wrap up the series and the T-Bones homestand Sunday evening at 7:05, with fireworks following the game. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
Box score: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=177668
– Story from T-Bones