After Friday’s game was suspended due to rain, the Kansas City T-Bones went on to fall to the Texas AirHogs, 6-3, Saturday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
With 4,225 in attendance, Friday’s game was suspended in the middle of the fourth inning with Texas leading 3-2.
When play resumed Saturday in the bottom of the fourth, Kansas City promptly tied the game. Texas reliever Tyler Ihrig (2-3) walked the lead-off batter Jake Blackwood. Three batters later, with two outs, Dalton Wheat singled and Vladimir Frias followed with a base hit that knocked in Blackwood. Frias accounted for all three Kansas City runs, hitting a two-run home run in the second inning — Friday night — that brought the T-Bones to within 3-2.
Texas took the lead for good in the top of the eighth Saturday afternoon as reliever Johnny Shuttlesworth allowed singles by Michael Hur and Devon Rodriguez, and walked Nick Akins, loading the bases. With one out, Evan DeLuca relieved Shuttlesworth (3-6) and allowed a single to left that scored Hur. Another single by Michael Miller scored Rodriguez. DeLuca walked Kenny Peoples-Walls, which brought in another run, giving the AirHogs a 6-3 lead.
The AirHogs took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second Friday night against starter Mike Kickham. An error by Frias allowed the lead-off batter, Akins, to reach first. Cory Morales followed with a single and Michael Miller was hit by a pitch by Kickham, loading the bases. With one out, Juan Sanchez singled to left, scoring both Akins and Morales. Leon Byrd advanced to first on a fielder’s choice, but Frias made a bad throw to first, his second error of the inning, which allowed Miller to score.
The Kansas City T-Bones then defeated the Texas AirHogs, 4-3, with a walk-off hit in the seventh inning Saturday night in front of 6,258 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Texas reliever Jack Karraker (0-1) walked Vladimir Frias leading off the seventh inning. Frias advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nolan Johnson before Tyler Massey singled to left field. Left fielder Leon Byrd had trouble picking up the ball, and the error allowed Frias to score, giving the T-Bones the victory.
The T-Bones erased the AirHogs’ two-run lead in the fifth inning after home runs by Anthony Gallas and Frias. Gallas led off the inning with a solo shot to right field. After Starlin Rodriguez singled, Frias homered for the second night in a row, giving the T-Bones a 3-2 lead. Frias ended the game going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Michael Hur led off the sixth inning for Texas with a double before advancing to third on a ground out by Devon Rodriguez. A sacrifice fly by Brian Bistagne scored Hur, tying the game 3-3.
Texas took the first lead of the game in the fourth inning. Following a double from Byrd, T-Bones pitcher Jordan Cooper walked Hur. A single by Rodriguez and a sacrifice fly by Bistagne scored both Byrd and Hur, giving the AirHogs a 2-0 lead.
Earlier Saturday afternoon the T-Bones resumed Friday night’s game, falling to Texas 6-3. Friday’s game was suspended in the middle of the fourth inning due to rain with Texas leading 3-2.
When play resumed Saturday in the bottom of the fourth, Kansas City promptly tied the game. Texas reliever Tyler Ihrig (2-3) walked the lead-off batter Jake Blackwood. Three batters later, with two outs, Dalton Wheat singled and Frias followed with a base hit that knocked in Blackwood. Frias accounted for all three Kansas City runs, hitting a two-run home run in the second inning — Friday night — that brought the T-Bones to within 3-2.
Texas took the lead for good in the top of the eighth as reliever Johnny Shuttlesworth allowed singles by Hur and Rodriguez, and walked Nick Akins, loading the bases. With one out, Evan DeLuca relieved Shuttlesworth (3-6) and allowed a single to left that scored Hur. Another single by Michael Miller scored Rodriguez. DeLuca walked Kenny Peoples-Walls, which brought in another run, giving the AirHogs a 6-3 lead.
Kansas City (39-46) will conclude its series against Texas (29-56) Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones
