Scott Carroll tossed six solid innings, and the T-Bones offense scored 10 runs to beat the Gary South Shore RailCats 10-4 Monday afternoon at U.S. Steel Yard in the first game of a four-game series.
Carroll, a native of Liberty, Missouri, notched a quality start to even his record at (1-1), holding Gary to just four hits and one earned run over six innings for Kansas City. Carroll added three strike outs in the series-opening win.
The T-Bones took the 1-0 lead in the top of the second with a leadoff single from Zach Walters off RailCats starter Tyler Harris (0-1).
With one out, Joe Jackson reached base on a fielder’s choice, but Walters moved to third courtesy of an error from third baseman Chris Goodman. Patrick Brady then brought home Walters with a sacrifice fly to left to give the T-Bones the early 1-0 lead.
Kansas City then took a commanding lead in the top of the third. Marcus Lemon gave the T-Bones a 2-0 lead on an RBI ground out, and Walters made the score 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to left.
Chase McDonald then launched a two-run home run off Harris to left-center, and the score was 5-0. It was McDonald’s second long ball of the season.
Gary got its only run off of Carroll in the home half of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Anthony Cheky, but that was all the RailCats could muster against Carroll. The right hander would exit after six and a 5-1 lead.
Kevin Keyes made the score 7-1 with his two-run home run to left that hit the lower part of the ballpark scoreboard off Gary reliever Carlos Diaz. Gary followed getting a pair back in the home half of the seventh, but the T-Bones were not done.
Kansas City came back with two more runs in the eighth. Omar Garcia had his third hit of the night with and an RBI single that scored Patrick Brady, and Marcus Lemon hit a sac fly to up the lead to 9-3.
Gary scored another run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Alex Crosby, but the T-Bones answered with another run in the top of the ninth. Joe Jackson added an RBI double to score Chase McDonald to make it a 10-4 game.
The T-Bones 10 game road trip continues Tuesday night with game two of the four game series. Right-hander Calvin Drummond goes for Kansas City against left-hander Jeff McKenzie. The game can be heard on the T-Bones Broadcast Network online attbonesbaseball.com.
The T-Bones return home Monday, June 5, to play host to Wichita in the first game of a three-game series. Tickets are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.