Category: Sports

Wiley’s big night leads T-Bones to victory

Byron Wiley had a career night for the T-Bones, falling a double short of the cycle in an 8-5 Kansas City win over Laredo in front of 5,564 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Friday night.

Wiley hit a three-run home run in the fourth and tied the game, and then an RBI triple in the sixth that gave Kansas City the lead, and the T-Bones never looked back.

The game started poorly for the T-Bones, however, as the Lemurs and their high-powered offense got off to a quick start against Kansas City starter Rick Zagone, who struggled in his previous start, last weekend at Laredo.

With one out in the second inning, Gerardo Avila singled and Angel Flores walked before Josh Scheffert shot a single up the middle, scoring Avila. Nick Van Stratten later singled in the inning, scoring Flores and pushing the Laredo advantage to 2-0. Travis Denker tacked on another run in the third, blasting his league-leading 13th home run over the left field wall.

Kansas City finally got to Laredo starter Tyler Pearson in the fourth, when David Espinosa led off the inning with a single and Danny Richar walked. Wiley then tied the game with one swing, knocking a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall for his third home run of the season.

Wiley was back at it in the sixth, shooting an RBI triple to right field that scored Richar, who opened the inning with a walk. Wiley then came home on a wild pitch by Seth Lintz, who had come on in relief of Pearson. Brian Erie appeared to hit into an inning-ending double play following a walk by T.J. Mittelstaedt and a Vladimir Frias single, but the relay throw skipped by first baseman John Alonso’s glove and allowed Mittelstaedt to come around and score, extending Kansas City’s lead to 6-3.

Both clubs scored two more runs apiece, but Kansas City came away with the victory. Zagone picked up his fifth win of the season for Kansas City, tossing six strong innings. Pearson took the loss for Laredo (4-3). Kris Regas picked up his seventh save.

With the win, Kansas City climbs back to .500 at 17-17, while Laredo falls to 17-16. The T-Bones continue the three-game series with Laredo Saturday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

– Story from T-Bones

Kuzdale squeezes T-Bones to 10-inning win

It took 10 innings and a squeeze bunt by the last batter in the lineup, but the T-Bones came away with a 7-6 victory over Sioux City in the rubber match Thursday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

Darrell Hudson sparked the extra-inning thriller with a leadoff double in the bottom of the 10th. He was moved over to third by a Brian Erie sacrifice bunt. That’s when Robby Kuzdale, the ninth hitter in Kansas City’s lineup, placed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt toward first, scoring Hudson.

Sioux City jumped on starter Pat Doyle early taking a 1-0 lead in the first. Andres Perez singled a one-out chopper toward short and was brought home two batters later when Nate Samson sneaked a single past shortstop.

Kansas City answered in the home half of the first. David Espinosa sliced a one-out triple into right center and was brought home on a single by Byron Wiley.

The T-Bones got to starter Kohei Tsukada in the second. Kuzdale was hit by a pitch following T.J. Mittelstaedt and Erie singles loading the bases for Bryan Sabatella, who lined a two-RBI single to center. Kuzdale would eventually score on a balk by Tsukada and Sabatella capped the four-run inning when he scored on a single by Espinosa.

Doyle surrendered the four-run lead in the top of the third. He gave up a one-out solo home run to Tommy Mendonca which spiraled a chaotic inning. A throwing error by Mittelstaedt and a wild pitch on Doyle’s second strikeout kept the Explorers in it long enough to string three consecutive singles together and even the score at 5-5.

With the win, the T-Bones now have a 16-17 record. They kick off a three-game series at home against Laredo on Friday night at 7:05. 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=177827

– Story from T-Bones

Sporting Kansas City advances to fifth round of Open Cup with 2-0 victory

Sporting Kansas City defeated Minnesota United FC 2-0 Wednesday night in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Soony Saad and Alex Martinez tallied second-half goals in front of 15,307 fans at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.

Sporting KC will now play host to the Portland Timbers at Sporting Park on Tuesday, June 24, in the fifth round of the competition. Tickets for that match will go on sale to the public Thursday morning at 10 a.m.

Saad was a threat for Sporting KC all night and nearly put the home side ahead in the seventh minute. The 21-year-old striker picked up a pass from Seth Sinovic inside the Minnesota penalty box, shook off a defender and curled a ball to the far post. Minnesota goalkeeper Mitchell Hildebrandt took a step back, but could only watch as Saad’s attempt ricocheted off the crossbar.

Minnesota had a flurry of chances midway through the first half, but goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum – who made his first start for Sporting Kansas City – was up to the task. Gruenebaum caught Christian Ramirez’s floating shot in the 22nd minute and did well to stop Kevin Venegas’ near-post attempt in the 31st minute.

The visitors had one more opportunity before halftime to break through, but Daniel Mendes’ driven attempt to the far post skipped past a sliding Ramirez.

Victor Munoz made his Sporting KC debut Wednesday night, but the affair was short-lived. The Spanish midfielder suffered an apparent leg injury in the 36th minute.

The game turned in Sporting KC’s favor in the 50th minute when referee Tyler Ploeger issued Cristiano Dias a straight red card for a hard challenge on forward Dom Dwyer.

Following the ejection, Hildebrandt did his best to prevent Sporting KC from capitalizing on the man advantage. The 25-year-old goalkeeper stopped point-blank attempts from Dwyer in the 64th minute and Sinovic a minute later.

Sporting KC would not be denied, however, and broke through in the 76th minute. Lawrence Olum, who wore the captain’s armband with Matt Besler on national team duty, picked up a poor Minnesota clearance and quickly squared the ball to Saad. The young striker took a touch to tee up a 25-yard strike that skipped between Hildebrandt and the near post. The goal was Saad’s third in four career Open Cup matches.

Sporting KC doubled its lead in the 87th minute when Martinez tallied his first professional goal. The play developed in the midfield when Toni Dovale played a through ball down the wing to Sal Zizzo. The speedy winger’s initial cross was deflected, but Zizzo stayed with the play and found an open Martinez at the penalty spot. The rookie midfielder one-timed the ball into the open net to secure the victory.

– Story from Sporting KC