Category: T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones hit three home runs, including a grand slam by Jake Blackwood, en route to an 11-1 win over the Joplin Blasters on Saturday night at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin, Mo.

The T-Bones jumped ahead early, with two runs in the top of the first against Joplin starter Isaac Hess (0-1). After the first two batters, Tyson Gillies and Dalton Wheat, each reached with a single, Blackwood roped a double to left that scored Gillies. On the play, the ball was mishandled by second baseman Mitch Glasser, which allowed Wheat to score.

Although those two runs were all the T-Bones would need, Kansas City erupted for a six-run fourth inning. Vladimir Frias led off the inning with the first of Kansas City’s three home runs in the game. The T-Bones didn’t stop there.

After Brian Erie reached on a fielder’s choice, Sergio Leon doubled, moving Erie to third. Erie scored when the next batter, Tyson Gillies, grounded into the fielder’s choice. Starlin Rodriguez followed with a walk that loaded the bases for Blackwood.

On a 3-1 count, Blackwood lined the ball over the left-field wall for a grand slam, his ninth homer of the season that also ties him for the team lead. The grand slam, which gave the T-Bones an 8-0 lead, was Kansas City’s first grand slam since Jacob Hayes’ inside-the-park grand slam last September.

T-Bones’ starting pitcher Josh Hodges, whom Kansas City acquired from Joplin on July 7, was fantastic against his former teammates. Hodges (3-4) gave up four hits and one run, while walking one and striking out five in seven innings.

His only blemish came in the sixth inning, when Charlie Valerio smacked a solo home run to right field. Johnny Shuttlesworth pitched the final two innings, allowing only one baserunner.

The T-Bones added to their lead in the fifth with their third home run of the game. This one came off the bat of Leon — who’s on his second stint this season with Kansas City, sandwiching time with Joplin — and scored Erie, who reached on a double. It’s Leon’s third homer of the season, but first with the T-Bones.

Kansas City (25-30) and Joplin (17-37) are scheduled to conclude their three-game series Sunday evening at 6:05. All of the action can be heard online at TBonesBaseball.com.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones

Joplin defeated Kansas City, 7-2, Friday night at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin, Mo., thanks largely to Blaster starter Alex De La Cruz.

Things looked optimistic in the first inning for Kansas City. With two outs, Jake Blackwood smacked a solo homerun to left field against De La Cruz, giving the T-Bones an early lead. After the Blasters tied in the bottom of the first on a home run by Sean Smith, the T-Bones reclaimed the lead in the second.

Starlin Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a single by Vladimir Frias. Rodriguez scored when Joplin tried to get Frias stealing second, which gave the T-Bones a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the second, former T-Bones infielder Brandon Tierney led off the second inning getting hit by a pitch from T-Bones starter David Holman (3-4). Mark Krueger walked on the very next at-bat.

After Alex Polston reached on an error, KC Huth lofted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Tierney. Two batters later, Mitch Glasser scored Krueger with a base hit, giving Joplin a 3-2 lead.

That’s all De La Cruz needed. In picking up his first win of the season, De La Cruz (1-3) allowed only five baserunners — three hits, one walk and one hit batter — while striking out six in 7 innings.

Joplin held its 3-2 lead until the eighth inning, when the Blasters erupted for three runs against T-Bones reliever Brett Zawacki.

Huth smacked a one-out double before Zawacki walked Sean Smith. After both runners advanced on a double steal, Glasser sent a single down the right field line that scored both Huth and Smith. Glasser circled the bases on back-to-back singles by Geraldo Valentin and Charlie Valerio, with Valerio’s scoring Glasser. That extended the Blasters’ lead to 7-2.

Kansas City (24-30) continues this three-game series with Joplin (17-36) Saturday at 7:15 p.m. in Joplin. All action can be heard TBonesBaseball.com.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones

Kansas City got a series split with Laredo, after winning the series finale, 4-2, Thursday night at Uni-Trade Stadium.

T-Bones starter Jordan Cooper held the Laredo lineup in check. Cooper threw 6 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking one, commanding the strike zone all night.

The T-Bones jumped ahead in the second inning. Tyler Massey led off the inning with a single to center, before stealing second, his 11th stolen base of the year. After Starlin Rodriguez grounded out and advanced Massey to third, Vladimir Frias doubled him home.

Two batters later, Sergio Leon knocked a single to center that scored Frias and gave the T-Bones a 2-0 lead. That ended the night for Laredo starter Danny Moskovits (2-4).

With Kansas City leading 2-1 in the sixth, the T-Bones added insurance runs thanks largely to the first three batters reaching against reliever Matt Bywater. Bywater led off the inning by walking Anthony Gallas and giving up a single to Massey, putting runners on the corners for Rodriguez. He singled to left, scoring Gallas and moving Massey to third.

Frias then lofted a ball to right field, deep enough to sacrifice Massey home. That gave Giving the T-Bones a 4-1 lead.

That was enough for Cooper (3-2), who’d given up only one more run. In the seventh Drew Martinez reached on an error by Leon with one out. Jesus Posso moved Martinez over with a single on the next at-bat. T-Bones manager John Massarelli then turned to Evan DeLuca. After Alvaro Rondon grounded out, Leandro Castro brought Martinez home with a base hit to center.

After a perfect eighth by Aaron Baker, Mark Haynes was brought in for the ninth. Haynes (11) gave up back-to-back one-out singles to J.D. Pulfer and Martinez before ending the game by striking out Posso and Rondon and securing Kansas City’s win.

The T-Bones continue their 10-game road trip with a three-game series in Joplin. First pitch for the series opener Friday night is set for 7:05. All of the action can be heard on TBonesBaseball.com.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones