The Kansas City T-Bones mustered just two hits in Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to Sioux City in front of 8,832 fans Tuesday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
Facing Patrick Johnson of the Explorers, the T-Bones struggled to find many base runners, let alone a hit. T.J. Mittelstaedt broke up the no-hitter in the seventh with a single up the middle, but before then they had just five base runners on four walks and a hit by pitch.
Meanwhile newly acquired pitcher Mike Nannini worked out multiple jams in his Kansas City debut. In 6 innings, Nannini allowed two runs off six hits, walked a pair and struck out three. He allowed at least one base runner in every inning, and gave up four extra-base hits — three doubles and a triple.
After threatening in the first three innings, the Explorers finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth. Peter Barrows tattooed a triple to right-center before being brought home on a sacrifice fly to left by Dillon Usiak.
The Explorers tacked on another run in the sixth. Barrows gapped a one-out double into short right-center. He advanced to third when Usiak reached first on a fielding error by Danny Richar. Todd Jennings then placed a sac bunt towards the mound that brought home Barrows.
Sioux City continued to play small ball in the seventh as Oscar Mesa, who led off the inning with a double, was brought home on a sacrifice bunt by Nate Samson.
With the loss, the T-Bones are now 14-17. Game two of the series is Wednesday morning at 11:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones