Category: T-Bones

Big innings doom Kansas City

Sioux City, Iowa – The Explorers scored in only three innings Monday night, but any two of the three would have been enough in their 13-6 win over Kansas City in the series opener.

With the T-Bones leading 4-0, Sioux City rallied against Kansas City starter Derek Gordon in the third inning. Shortly after Gordon issued back-to-back walks at the start of the inning, Peter Barrows and Amos Ramon delivered back-to-back RBI doubles. By the end of the inning, the Explorers sent 10 to the plate, and scored five runs on four hits and three walks.

Down 5-4 in the fifth inning, Kansas City once again rallied off of Sioux City starter John Straka with a two-run single from Brian Erie that gave the T-Bones a 6-5 lead. Erie, who went hitless in three games at St. Paul during the weekend, ended Monday’s game with a three-for-four performance with three RBIs.

The T-Bones, however couldn’t escape the big inning. Chris Squires (2-3) took the loss for Kansas City as he loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter before allowing four hits in the sixth. Sioux City would score five runs against Squires and take a 9-6 lead. For good measure, the Explorers added three additional runs in the seventh against Jared Messer.

Kansas City’s offense got going early RBI hits from Erie and T.J. Mittelstaedt in the second inning. The T-Bones added two more runs in the third on a two-out, two-run single from Nick Schwaner that scored Ray Sadler and Danny Richar, and extended Kansas City’s lead to 4-0.

The T-Bones (27-30) look to rebound Tuesday night against Sioux City (25-32) with a 7:05 first pitch from Lewis and Clark Park. The game can be heard on 1660-AM or online at tbonesbaseball.com.

Box score: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=177973
– Story from T-Bones

Espinosa, Regas selected to All-Star team

The American Association announced that infielder David Espinosa and pitcher Kris Regas will represent the T-Bones on the South team in the All-Star Game on July 29 in Winnipeg.

“I’m excited for Regas and Espinosa,” said T-Bones manager John Massarelli. “With Regas as one of the league’s top closers and Espy among league leaders in several offensive categories, they’re great selections.”

Espinosa, who has been selected as a “utility player,” has been a force for Kansas City offensively this season, hitting .298 with a .410 on-base percentage. He leads the league in triples with 10, while also ranking 10th in doubles (16), fifth in extra-base hits (27) and fifth in walks (41). Espinosa has been versatile for the T-Bones, playing left field, first base and designated hitter.

Regas has been the anchor for the Kansas City bullpen in 2014 with a 2.17 ERA and 34 strikeouts in only 37 1/3 innings of work. The left-hander is 4-1 this season and is tied for third in the league with 12 saves.

Espinosa and Regas will join the rest of the South team on Tuesday, July 29, as they take on the North at Shaw Park in Winnipeg for the league’s first All-Star Game since 2010.
– Story from T-Bones

Late runs push Saints past T-Bones

St. Paul, Minn. – The Saints put together three three-run innings Sunday afternoon and beat Kansas City, 11-7, in the series finale at Midway Stadium.

Kansas City took a 5-0 lead through the top of the third, but St. Paul got on the board in the bottom of the inning with three runs, sparked by a two-run double from Angelo Songco, against T-Bones starter Rick Zagone.

The T-Bones retook the lead 7-6 in the sixth when former Kansas City pitcher Mikey Mehlich walked three before a two-RBI single by Danny Richar that scored Brian Erie and T.J. Mittelstaedt. That would be Kansas City’s final lead of the game.

The Saints tied the game with a run in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Jared Messer, but then took control with a three-run, four-hit seventh off Pat Doyle (3-4). St. Paul added an insurance run in the eighth, as the Saints scored eight runs in the final four innings.

Mehlich (5-1) and another former T-Bones pitcher, Dan Sattler (12), got the win and save, for St. Paul.

Coming off an 11-4 win Saturday, Kansas City looked as if it might continue the scoring barrage on Sunday as the T-Bones batted around in the first inning against starter Anthony Claggett, who struggled to find his control. Claggett walked Mittelstaedt and David Espinosa leading off the game, as well as two more in the inning. The T-Bones scored three on an RBI single by Ray Sadler and a two-RBI hit by Vladimir Frias.

Mittelstaedt ended the game with four walks, giving him a league-best 60 on the season. After getting on base twice Friday night, Mittelstaedt reached 10 out of 11 plate appearances in the final two games of this series. Sadler led off the third with a home run, his second in as many games.

The T-Bones (27-29) now get set for three games at Sioux City beginning Monday night. The game can be heard on 1660-AM or online at tbonesbaseball.com.

Box score: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=177967
– Story from T-Bones