Category: T-Bones

Jordan Cooper got his first win of the season and Kansas City’s offense got timely hits as the T-Bones beat the Joplin Blasters, 7-4, Monday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The T-Bones got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Tyler Massey began the inning strong for Kansas City with a double to centerfield. He was tagged out at third on a grounder by Vladimir Frias, but then Jake Blackwood gave Kansas City a 2-0 lead with a home run, his second of the season.

Joplin answered Kansas City with two runs in the top of the third. With one out, Mitch Glasser, Geraldo Valentin and Charlie Valerio hit three consecutive singles off T-Bones’ starter Cooper. The third, by Valerio, scored Glasser. Valerio was able to go to second on an error by right fielder Christian Torres. Willie Cabrera’s sacrifice fly to centerfield sent home Valentin, tying the game, 2-2.

The game didn’t stay tied for long. In the bottom of the third, Kansas City’s offense put together four runs against Joplin starter Frank Del Valle.

After Massey reached on a base hit, Del Valle (0-1) walked Frias, setting up Blackwood for an RBI single. The T-Bones scored again on an error by Blasters’ third baseman Cory Morales on a ball off the bat of Anthony Gallas, which scored Frias.

With one out, Brett Wiley singled and sent Blackwood home. Torres ended the scoring with a two-out single to left that scored Gallas and gave Kansas City a 6-2 lead.

Cooper (1-0), a Topeka, Kan., native, allowed seven hits and three runs in seven innings for the T-Bones.

With the win, Kansas City took three of four from Joplin and won its second series of the season. The T-Bones (11-14) begin a three-game series at Wichita on Tuesday night at 7:05. All of the action can be heard online at TBonesBaseball.com.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones struck early Sunday afternoon and didn’t look back, beating the Joplin Blasters, 5-3, at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The T-Bones got on the board first in the bottom of the first. After leadoff hitter Starlin Rodriguez was hit by a pitch from Joplin’s starting pitcher Carlos Fuentes (0-1), Rodriguez stole second. Tyler Massey then doubled to centerfield, scoring Rodriguez and giving Kansas City an early 1-0 lead. Joplin pitchers would hit five Kansas City batters in the game, one shy of tying the American Association record.

Kansas City strengthened its lead in the second when, with one out, Brandon Tierney singled to center and then came in on a home run by Brett Wiley. Rodriguez, at the plate for the second time in as many innings, singled and advanced to third on Nate Tenbrink’s single. Massey then got his second hit and second RBI, as he knocked in Rodriguez with a hit to right, giving the T-Bones a 4-0 lead. Rodriguez and Massey each had two hits in the game for Kansas City.

In the third inning, T-Bones starting pitcher Sean Furney walked the first two batters, Oscar Mesa and Mitch Glasser. With one out, Charlie Valerio doubled to right field, scoring Mesa. Willie Cabrera cut Kansas City’s lead in half, 4-2, when he grounded out to second baseman Wiley, scoring Glasser.

Furney (3-1) threw five innings, allowing five hits and two runs. After Evan DeLuca and Brett Zawacki pitched three scoreless innings, Mark Haynes (3) picked up the save, even though he allowed one run — his first of the season — on one walk and one hit.

The T-Bones (10-14) will continue to play host to the Blasters (9-14) on Monday 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 Joplin Blasters took an early lead and dominated the T-Bones, 15-3, Saturday night in front of 6,511 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The Joplin Blasters took an early lead in the first as Mitch Glasser and Geraldo Valentin each singled. Willie Cabrera homered, bringing in Glasser and Valentin, and giving the Blasters a 3-0 lead.

The Blasters got all the runs they’d need in the second inning, as they put together a two-out rally. Six consecutive batters reached base, with Valentin delivering a two-run double and, three batters later, Will Soto knocking a two-run single against T-Bones starting pitcher Johnny Shuttlesworth (2-2), making it 7-0.

Kansas City remained scoreless until the fourth inning. In his first game of the season, left fielder Nate Tenbrink was hit by a pitch by Joplin starter Noel Arguelles (1-0). Tenbrink stole second and then advanced to third on a groundout by Brandon Tierney. Cole Leonida brought in Tenbrink on a groundout, making the score 7-1.

The T-Bones scored again in the fifth. Arguelles, with his team leading 10-1, walked Tyler Massey, who advanced to third when Anthony Gallas singled with two outs. Jake Blackwood’s double scored Massey, making it 10-2, but the inning ended as Tenbrink struck out with two runners left on base.

First baseman Blackwood, who started his professional career in 2006, made his regular-season pitching debut in the ninth, as Joplin scored five more runs.

The T-Bones (9-14) will continue to play host to the Joplin Blasters (9-13) Sunday afternoon at 1:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones