Category: T-Bones

T-Bones walk-off for seventh straight win

Kansas City swept its second series of the season — and its second consecutive series — in unusual walk-off fashion, 2-1, against Laredo Sunday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan. The win gives manager John Massarelli 850 in his career.

It didn’t come without some stress, though. Tied 1-1, the T-Bones had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, before Tyler Moore struck out.

Kansas City starter Mike Kickham, who had a great outing, went out for the ninth inning, and faced one over the minimum, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth. Kickham gave up four hits and walked one, with two strikeouts, in 9 innings pitched. Kickham ended with a no decision after Kamakani Usui retired the T-Bones in order in the bottom of the ninth.

After Kansas City reliever Tyler Ybarra (1-0) got the Lemurs in order in the top of the 10th, Usui gave up singles to Jake Blackwood and Anthony Gallas leading off the bottom of the inning.

Three batters later, with two outs, the Lemurs again intentionally walked Vladimir Frias to load the bases and get to Moore. This time, with Moore down in the count 0-2, Usui (4-4) hit him in the back with a pitch, which brought home Blackwood and gave the T-Bones the 2-1 win.

Kickham’s only rough inning was the fourth, when he gave up a single to Abel Nieves and hit J.D. Pulfer with a pitch. Denis Phipps then singled, loading the bases. A sacrifice fly by Burt Reynolds, the American Association’s leading home run hitter, scored Nieves, giving Laredo the 1-0 lead.

Kansas City tied the game 1-1 in the seventh. Starlin Rodriguez and Frias led off the inning with singles before a sacrifice bunt by Moore put them in scoring position.

Laredo reliever Luis De La Cruz intentionally walked Tyler Massey before Jimmy Mojica scored Rodriguez on a fielder’s choice grounder, when Laredo forced out Massey at second but couldn’t turn the double play.

Kansas City has now won seven straight, its longest winning streak since June 29-July 5, 2015, when the T-Bones swept back-to-back series against Rockland and Gary SouthShore.

The T-Bones (37-42) have one day off before heading out for a four-game series in Wichita. The series starts Tuesday night at 5:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

– Story by Matt Fulks, T-Bones

T-Bones win sixth straight

Starlin Rodriguez sparked Kansas City’s offense Saturday night, as the T-Bones beat the Laredo Lemurs, 7-3, in front of 6,937 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas CIty, Kan. This is the T-Bones sixth consecutive win, their longest winning streak this season.

Kansas City took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, when Laredo starter Gabe Perez walked Steve Swingle and Tyler Massey. With one out, Brett Wiley hit a two-run double to deep right field, that scored both Swingle and Massey.

Rodriguez extended Kansas City’s lead to 3-0 with a solo home run in the fourth. It was his third home run of the season.

With the T-Bones leading 3-1, the Lemurs tied the game in the sixth. Kansas City reliever Josh Tols walked the lead-off batter Jesus Posso. With one out, Brennan Metzger singled before Tols walked Alvaro Rondon, loading the bases. Evan DeLuca (3-3) relieved Tols and induced a groundball to third by Ty Morrison. Kansas City third baseman Jimmy Mojica threw out Posso at home, preventing a run. J.D. Pulfer then lined a ground rule double to right that scored Metzger and Rondon.

The T-Bones came right back in the bottom of the sixth, however, sending eight to the plate and scoring three runs. Anthony Gallas reached on a fielder’s choice against reliever Manny Martinez (0-2) and Tyson Gillies singled before Rodriguez doubled to the left field corner, and scored Gallas and Gillies, giving Kansas City a 5-3 lead. Vladimir Frias then knocked in Rodriguez, giving the T-Bones a 6-3 lead.

Rodriguez finished the night going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Wiley went 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBIs and one run.

Kansas City starter Sean Furney, making his second start since returning last week from the disabled list, had a strong outing, giving up two hits, one walk and no runs, while striking out five in 4 innings.

The T-Bones (36-42) and the Lemurs (43-36) concluded this four-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1:05.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones

T-Bones’ Messer throws complete-game shutout

Jared Messer
Jared Messer

Jared Messer did two things Friday night that no T-Bones pitcher has done since 2012 and 2013, as he struck out 10 in a complete-game 2-0 shutout over the Laredo Lemurs in front of 5,331 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

Messer stayed out of trouble most of the night, giving up five hits and not allowing any walks in the first nine-inning complete-game of his career. He had a seven-inning complete-game shutout against Joplin last season on Aug. 21.

Messer faced one over the minimum in the final 4 2/3 innings, including a stretch of 11 consecutive outs. The only time he seemed to get into trouble was the fourth, when he gave up singles to Burt Reynolds and Ty Morrison leading off the inning, but then he struck out the side, getting Denis Phipps, Zane Chavez and Jesus Posso.

Messer is the first T-Bones pitcher to throw a complete game since Lucas Irvine on July 27, 2013. And, his 10 strikeouts are the most for a Kansas City pitcher since Brian Grening struck out 13 in a game on Sept. 3, 2012.

The T-Bones got on the board first in the second inning. Designated hitter Anthony Gallas led the inning with a double to deep left field. With one out, Gallas scored on a single to left by Dalton Wheat, giving Kansas City a 1-0 lead.

Laredo starter Ryan Beckman threw nearly as well as Messer. After the run in the second, Kansas City did not get on base again until the fifth inning — eight consecutive outs — when Wheat singled to right field.

Wheat then stole his second base of the night before once again advancing to third on a groundout by Vladimir Frias. Tyler Moore then grounded the ball to third baseman Cesar Valera, who thought about throwing Wheat out at home but hesitated and went to first instead, giving the T-Bones a 2-0 lead. Beckman (6-6) threw a complete game, also, giving up six hits, striking out six and not allowing a walk.

Kansas City has now won five in a row, its longest winning streak since the T-Bones won seven in a row June 29-July 7, 2015.

The T-Bones (35-42) will continue to play host to Laredo (43-35) on 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 Matt Fulks, T-Bones