Category: T-Bones

Noga gets first win behind three T-Bones home runs

St. Paul, Minn. – Things haven’t been falling perfectly for pitcher Andy Noga in 2014. That changed Saturday night as the T-Bones gave Noga his first victory of the season with an 11-4 win over the St. Paul Saints on Saturday at Midway Stadium.

Noga (1-3) has been a hard-luck pitcher for the T-Bones but his offense offered a huge boost from the first batter of the ballgame, when T.J. Mittelstaedt led off the first with a home run, his team-leading eighth of the season, against Saints starter Robert Coe (4-4). Mittelstaedt would go on to lead the T-Bones by reaching base all six times on a four-for-four night with three RBIs and two runs scored.

Not to be outdone, Kansas City added two runs in the second on a two-run home run by Robby Kuzdale, who’s homered in both games of this series. Kuzdale had three of Kansas City’s 14 hits in a game during which every T-Bones batter reached base at least once.

Leading 4-0, the T-Bones, who scored in each of the first five innings, put the game away in the fourth. After Kuzdale led off with a double and Mittelstaedt singled, David Espinosa launched a sacrifice fly to center — the first of two for Espinosa in the game — that scored Kuzdale. Two batters later, Ray Sadler hit a three-run home run that gave Kansas City an 8-0 lead.

Although he had only one 1-2-3 inning, Noga was never in trouble. He scattered five hits and one run, along with six strikeouts and two walks, over 6 innings. It’s his first win since beating El Paso on Aug. 24, 2013, for Sioux City.

Box score: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=177960

Saints take series opener in extras

A night after tying a game late and winning in extra innings, the T-Bones lost a lead in the ninth Friday night before eventually dropping the series opener to St. Paul, 3-2, in 11 innings at Midway Stadium.

Kansas City held a 1-0 lead much of the game after Robby Kuzdale led off the third with his fourth
home run of the season. Then, in the top of the eighth, a half-inning after St. Paul tied the game, the T-Bones re-took the lead, 2-1, after T.J. Mittelstaedt and David Espinosa led off with back-to-back
triples. For Espinosa, who got his 24th RBI, it was his league-leading 10th triple of the season.

In the ninth, closer Kris Regas, who went 3 innings and got the win in Kansas City’s 10-inning game against Grand Prairie on Thursday, gave up a one-out home run to Henry Wrigley that sent the game to
extra innings.

The T-Bones appeared to take the lead in the top of the 10th on a ball that Espinosa drove to right center. Originally ruled a home run, the call was overturned and Espinosa was given a double. Kansas
City, however, was unable to capitalize.

After former T-Bones pitcher Mikey Mehlich (4-1) retired Kansas City in order in the top of the 11th, the Saints got two runners on before Angelo Songco hit a double to the wall against Jared Messer (1-2) that scored Jared McDonald, who was pinch-running for Willie Cabrera, from second.

The loss spoiled a solid performance by Kansas City starter Kyle DeVore, who gave up one run on five hits, struck out five and didn’t walk any in 8 innings.

The T-Bones (26-28) and the Saints (28-23) continue their three-game series Saturday night at 7:05. The
game can be heard on 1660-AM or online at tbonesbaseball.com.

Box score: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=177953

T-Bones rally, win in extras


The T-Bones rallied to a 4-3 victory in 10 innings against Grand Prairie Thursday night in front of 5,514 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

Down 3-2 in the ninth, Bryan Sabatella slapped a leadoff single to left off Grand Prairie closer Dakota Watts (0-2) and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Vladimir Frias.

Nick Schwaner then grounded out, advancing Sabatella to third before Brian Erie shot a single to right field that scored Sabatella and tied the game at 3-3.

David Espinosa tripled with one out in the 10th and Danny Richar lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Espinosa and won the game, salvaging the three-game series.

Kansas City had jumped out to an early advantage on Grand Prairie starter Aaron Wilkerson in the second inning.

Sabatella walked and Frias doubled before Schwaner knocked an RBI single into left field, scoring Sabatella. Erie later reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Frias and extended the Kansas City lead to 2-0.

Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, Grand Prairie took the lead courtesy of a two-out, bases-loaded double by Madison Carter that scored Abel Nieves and Brian Myrow.

Vince DiFazio, who was at first on the hit, was thrown out by Frias after over-running third, which ended the inning, but not before the AirHogs had taken a 3-2 lead that stood until the bottom of the ninth.

Kris Regas (4-1) pitched 3 innings and picked up the win for the T-Bones.

With the win, the T-Bones move to 26-27 on the season, while the AirHogs fall to 21-31. Kansas City begins a three-game series at St. Paul (27-23) Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on 1660-AM or online at tbonesbaseball.com.

Box score: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=177948

– Story from T-Bones