Category: T-Bones

It took one swing of the bat to ruin one of the best performances of the year for the Kansas City T-Bones.

That swing came from the bat of Eddie Medina, who delivered a three-run home run for Wichita, as the Wingnuts won 4-3 over the T-Bones in walk off fashion Monday night in Wichita.

With the T-Bones holding a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth, the first two batters reached on back-to-back singles from Brent Clevlen and T.J. Mittelstaedt, off T-Bones reliever Jeff Walters. The right-hander then got a fly ball out from Matt Chavez for the first out of the inning. Brennen Salgado then drove in Clevlen with an RBI single to make it 3-1. Two pitches later Medina won it on a home run to left center.

The end over-shadowed another solid outing for Chris Perry. The T-Bones’ starter went seven innings, with nine strike outs, holding Wichita to just one hit way back in the first. If not for a dropped third strike in the sixth, he would have retired the next 20 batters he faced, but had to settle for 14 in a row and 19 out of 20. Perry has now struck out 20 in his last two starts over a 12 2/3 inning span.

In a rematch with former T-Bone Jordan Cooper, Kansas City was able to strike first once again. Chase McDonald doubled with two outs in the second and came home on an RBI single from Chantz Mack to make it 1-0.

Kevin Keyes homered twice in the game in the third and fifth, both off Cooper, to extend the lead to 3-0. Cooper went six for the no decision for Wichita, surrendering nine hits.

In the eighth the Wingnuts got their first hit since the first on a pair of infield singles that took huge “turf” added hops off the artificial surface. Cody Winiarski kept Wichita off the board and worked around any damage setting up the ninth inning for Wichita.

Zach Walters extended his hitting streak to 11 games for Kansas City in the loss going 3-for-4 and Chantz Mack had a two-hit night as well. Jeff Walters (1-2), who was moved to the bull pen after beginning the year in the rotation, was charged with the blown save, while the win went to Matt Devine (1-2).

The four-game series and road trip continues Tuesday night with left-handed pitcher Rich Mascheri making his first T-Bones start and right-handed pitcher Tyler Kane (3-1, 4.74) going for Wichita. The action will be on the T-Bones Broadcast Network online at tbonesbaseball.com. The team returns home on Friday night, June 16, to begin a 10-game home stand.

Tickets to home games are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.

– Story from T-Bones

Right-handed pitcher Stephen Johnson of the Kansas City T-Bones will be going to the San Francisco Giants organization.

The T-Bones announced they sold Johnson’s contract last week.

Johnson joined the T-Bones after spending 2016 with the AAA Louisville Bats in the International League. While with the Bats, Johnson pitched 74.2 innings and had a 4.82 ERA. He remained on the inactive list for the T-Bones for the majority of the 2017 season.

The San Francisco Giants drafted Johnson in the sixth round as the 208th overall pick in 2012. The Washington D.C., native played for St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas, prior to being drafted.

Johnson, is the 29th T-Bones player, whose contract has been sold to a major-league organization, and fifth since the end of the 2016 season.

In October, the Miami Marlins purchased outfielder Dalton Wheat’s contract, and then the Colorado Rockies purchased pitcher David Holman’s contract in December. In February, left-handed pitcher Mike Kickham was sold to the Miami Marlins. The Colorado Rockies purchased catcher Christian Correa early this month.

The T-Bones are scheduled to play an away game at 7:05 p.m. tonight in Wichita.

– Story from T-Bones

On a breezy Saturday evening, the Kansas City T-Bones were unable to sweep the series against the St. Paul Saints in front of 6,106 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, with a final score of 8-3.

After two scoreless innings, the Saints’ Breland Almadova hit an RBI single scoring Jon Kristofferson off starting T-Bones’ pitcher, Gabe Perez (2-1), giving them a 1-0 lead in the third.

The T-Bones didn’t have an answer in the bottom of the third and the Saints just kept on rolling in the fourth.

Tony Thomas hit a two-run homer, scoring Anthony Gallas, to push the lead 3-0. Maxx Garrett followed up two batters later with a solo home run. Tanner Vavra hit a single to left field, later scoring off of another single to left field from Almadova making the score 5-0.

The T-Bones finally kicked into gear in the home half of the fourth, with a single from designated hitter Kevin Keyes followed by a two-run home run from Zach Walters. Chantz Mack then hit an RBI single to score Joe Jackson, cutting the lead to 5-3.

A double RBI from St. Paul’s Danny Oh scored Vavra in the top of sixth off KC’s Myles Smith (0-2), before scoring himself following an error on T-Bones’ shortstop Eddie Newton. A single from Anthony Gallas scored Almadova, making the final score 8-3.

The T-Bones struggled to overcome the lead after falling behind so early. John Straka (3-2) secured the win for St. Paul, while Gabe Perez recorded his first loss of the season for Kansas City.

“We fell behind. Then we struggled back, scored three, [St. Paul] got five, then when we went to the bullpen we gave up another three. So, we were playing catch up the whole time. We were doing too much, prevented us from getting back in the game,” manager Joe Calfapietra said.

No games are scheduled Sunday for the T-Bones. The T-Bones will travel to Wichita for their second road trip of the season. They will return to CommunityAmerica Ballpark on June 16 for a three-game series against Salina to kick off a 10-game homestand.

Tickets to home games are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.

– Story from T-Bones