Category: T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones put together a four-run third inning and didn’t trail after that point, beating Sioux City 7-5 Friday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The T-Bones struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Starlin Rodriguez opened the inning with a double to left. Explorers starting pitcher Bryan Escanio (2-2) then walked Tyler Massey. After Escanio retired the next two batters, he walked the bases loaded with a free pass to Jimmy Mojica. That’s when Brett Wiley, the hottest hitter in the American Association, lined a two-run single to left that scored Rodriguez and Massey. giving Kansas City a 2-0 lead.

Sioux City answered with three runs of their own in the second. Kansas City’s starting pitcher Jared Messer (3-0) walked Tommy Mendonca, and Ralph Henriquez singled to right. After Matt Koch loaded the bases with a single to right, Brendan Slattery, grounded out to shortstop Vladimir Frias, cutting Kansas City’s lead in half. Derrick Robinson then knocked a two-run single that scored Henriquez and Koch, and gave the Explorers a 3-2 lead.

The Explorers added to their lead in the top of the third as Mendonca hit his fifth home run of the season, bringing the score to 4-2.

Escanio struggled against Kansas City’s offense in the third as the T-Bones sent nine to the plate. With one out, Anthony Gallas walked and Mojica singled to center. Wiley roped a triple that brought in Gallas and Mojica, giving Wiley four RBIs in the game and tying the score at 4-4. Escanio walked his fourth batter of the game, Frias, who stole second. Erie then hit a two-run single to center, that gave Kansas City a 6-4 lead.

Kansas City strengthened its lead in the fifth. Wiley led off the inning with a double to right, his third hit of the night. Erie then got his third hit and third RBI of the night, as he singled to center, which scored Wiley and put the T-Bones ahead, 7-4. Wiley, who ended the night a home run shy of the cycle, now has a nine-game hitting streak, which includes eight multi-hit games. In his last eight games, Wiley is batting a league-best .621 (18 for 29) with 15 RBIs and 10 runs scored.

Messer (3-0) got the win after going 5 innings, giving up six hits and four runs. Kansas City used four relievers before bringing in Mark Haynes, who pitched a perfect ninth and got his ninth save of the season.

With the win, Kansas City has now won its last four series. The T-Bones (22-26) and Sioux City (22-26) are scheduled to finish their three-game series Saturday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

– from Matt Fulks, T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones got a solid pitching performance from David Holman and jumped to an early lead, as they defeated Sioux City 4-3 Thursday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Kansas City got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Brett Wiley singled to right field. Dalton Wheat followed with a double to right, giving the T-Bones two in scoring position with one out. Vladimir Frias then lifted a sacrifice fly to left fielder Tim Colwell, scoring Wiley and giving Kansas City a 1-0 lead.

The T-Bones strengthened their lead by one in the fourth, bringing the score 2-0. Wiley led off the inning with his second hit of the game. That gives him 17 hits in his last eight games, and a .586 batting average in that span. Wiley moved to second on a wild pitch by Sioux City’s starter Ryan Zimmerman (2-7). After retiring Wheat and Frias, Zimmerman walked Brian Erie. Starlin Rodriguez then singled to right field, scoring Wiley.

The Explorers had trouble against Holman (3-3), who gave up only one hit and faced two over the minimum through the first four innings. Sioux City broke through in the fifth. With two outs, the next four batters got a hit off Holman, with the big blow coming on a two-run single by Derrick Robinson that scored Matt Koch and Brendan Slattery, tying the game 2-2. Holman ended up giving up two runs and five hits in 5 innings.

The game didn’t stay tied for long, though. The T-Bones capitalized off two costly mistakes by the Explorers. Zimmerman began the bottom of the fifth by walking Jake Blackwood, who went to second on a wild pitch and then moved to third on a bad throw by the catcher, Koch. That set up Jimmy Mojica for an RBI single to center, giving Kansas City a 3-1 lead.

Each team added an extra run in its last at-bat, including a two-out solo home run by Sioux City’s Ralph Henriquez in the ninth. But Mark Haynes struck out the side in the ninth, as he recorded his eighth save of the season.

The T-Bones have now won the first game in 10 of their 15 series in 2016.
Kansas City (21-26) and Sioux City (22-25) are scheduled to continue their three-game series Friday 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

The Kansas City T-Bones dropped the series finale to Sioux Falls Wednesday night, 7-4 final.

The T-Bones trailed 1-0 after the first inning, as Kansas City starting pitcher Mike Kickham (1-1) allowed a solo home run to Blake Schmitt.

The T-Bones tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning, as Anthony Gallas and Brett Wiley each doubled in the inning.

The wheels fell off for Kansas City in the bottom of the second inning however, as the Canaries plated four runs on just three hits. The T-Bones committed two errors in the inning.

Trailing 6-1, Brett Wiley recorded his 9th and 10th RBI’s of the series in the sixth inning, pulling Kansas City within a 6-3 deficit.

The two teams exchanged runs late in the game, including Anthony Gallas launching his team-leading 9th home run of the season for the T-Bones.

Kickham was charged with six runs over six innings. Sioux Falls starting pitcher Joe Bircher (1-5) picked up the win as he allowed three runs over six frames.

The T-Bones (20-26) return to Community America Ballpark Thursday night. First pitch of the three game series with Sioux City is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
– Story from T-Bones