Category: T-Bones

by Nolan Brooks

Another day and another doubleheader for the Kansas City T-Bones (20-18) as they split the doubleheader against the Chicago Dogs (18-18), losing the first one 11-4 but taking the second one, 7-3, to win the series three games to one.

The T-Bones resumed play in the bottom of the third with Kevin Hamann on the mound, and Chicago wasted no time getting into the game after a double from Edwin Arroyo would tie the game up at one run each. Chicago then added to the board with an RBI putout that gave the Dogs a 2-1 lead after three innings.

Chicago kept the bats going with back-to-back home runs from Trey Vavra and Keon Barnum on only the third pitch of the inning to increase their lead to 4-1 the next inning.

KC’s Daniel Nava had other plans though after a double from him scored Dylan Tice to cut the Dogs lead to 4-2 through five innings.

The Dogs had no time for comebacks after a towering double to right center from Keon Barnum and a double from Victor Roache increased the Dogs’ lead to 6-2, quieting the T-Bones.

Just when the sixth inning crumble seemed to be over, Chicago continued the scoring with a sacrifice fly to go up 7-2. Chicago’s David Olmedo-Barrera added into the mix with a two-out triple to bury the T-Bones even deeper and go up 9-2 for the fifth run scored in the sixth inning alone.

The T-Bones did not go away quietly after a double from Danny Mars and a monster home run from newcomer Chris Colabello cut the Dogs lead to 9-4.

Chicago’s Keon Barnum was having a day, smashing a two-run shot for his second homer of the day keeping Chicago safe with an 11-4 lead through seven innings.

The Dogs closed game one of the doubleheader with an 11-4 victory, giving Carlos Zambrano the win (1-0) and Kevin Hamann the loss (1-1).

T-Bones win second game, 7-3

Game two of the doubleheader started much better for the T-Bones after an infield single from Shawn O’Malley scored Dylan Tice, and a run scored after a walk for KC to give the T-Bones a 2-0 lead early after one inning.

The scoring continued for KC after a three-run moonshot into the parking garage increased the T-Bone lead to 5-0, and the T-Bones did not stop there, scoring one more after a putout RBI from Forrestt Allday gave the T-Bones a 6-0 lead.

Despite two scoreless innings, Chicago got on the board after three straight doubles from Edwin Arroyo, Rey Gonzalez and Jordan Dean gave Chicago life and cut the KC lead to 6-2.

The Dogs kept on firing and scored one more after a sacrifice fly from Trey Vavra to make it a 6-3 ballgame through three innings.

The T-Bones offense responded, however, with a solo wall scraper home run from Chris Colabello to increase the lead to 7-3 KC, much to the disapproval of Dogs manager Butch Hobson, who was ejected after arguing the home run.

Both teams went quiet thanks to the bullpen on both sides, but the T-Bones took game two of the doubleheader 7-3 to win the series over Chicago.

KC’s Kenny Koplove (1-1) is credited the win while Luke Westphal (5-1) is credited the loss in game two of the doubleheader.

The T-Bones will continue their road trip as they take on the Gary SouthShore RailCats in a three-game series this weekend. The games will be on the T-Bones Broadcast Network at http://mixlr.com/t-bones-baseball/, with a first pitch of 7:10 p.m. Friday night.

The T-Bones’ next home game will be against Sioux Falls at 7:05 p.m. July 2 at T-Bones Stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.

Full and half-season 2019 ticket packages as well as mini plans are on sale online or by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke’s Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale.

• Story from T-Bones

An early wake up call for an 11:35 a.m. game on Tuesday did not slow down the Kansas City T-Bones (19-17) as right-hander Tommy Collier (3-3) tossed seven strong innings, and Casey Gillaspie drove in three runs in a 9-1 win over the Chicago Dogs (17-17) in front of 5,557 in Chicago.

The Dogs scored in the home half of the first on an RBI single from Victor Roache, but that was the only run they would get off Collier and a pair of relievers. Collier took command and retired the next five batters into the third.

In the top of the third, the T-Bones loaded the bases against left-handed pitcher Austin Wright when Casey Gillaspie walked with the bases loaded and two outs to tie the game at one.

Wright then uncorked a wild pitch to score Danny Mars from third and another wild pitch with Taylor Sparks batting resulted in a dropped third strike and Dylan Tice racing home to make it 3-1.

In the top of the fifth, Gillaspie took Wright deep to left with a two-run home run to increase the KC lead to 5-1. Roy Morales, who turned 24 on Tuesday, celebrated with an RBI single after a pair of walks to increase the lead to 6-1.

Collier was steady for the T-Bones, retiring 10 of the next 12 batters he faced. He scattered five hits over seven innings with four strikeouts.

In the top of the seventh, the T-Bones added another run on an RBI single from Mason Davis. Both Forrestt Allday and Danny Mars had ninth inning RBI singles off Harrison Smith to close out the T-Bones scoring.

Jackson Lowery worked a scoreless eighth inning while Carlos Diaz came off the inactive list earlier in the day to toss a scoreless ninth. The winning pitcher was Tommy Collier (3-3), and the losing pitcher was Austin Wright (1-5).

The series continues at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at Impact Field in Chicago. The game will be on the T-Bones Broadcast Network at http://mixlr.com/t-bones-baseball/.

Right-handed pitcher Christian Binford (1-0, 3.64) will take the ball for KC to face left-handed D.J. Snelten (3-1, 3.75) for Chicago.

Full and half-season 2019 ticket packages as well as mini plans are on sale online or by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke’s Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale.

• Story from T-Bones

by Harry Welsh

The Kansas City T-Bones came to Chicago and finished game one with a win, 8-6.

Kansas City started the game with a scoreless first inning; the bats quickly warmed up as Taylor Sparks smoked a home run off starting pitcher Jake Dahlberg in the second.

The Chicago Dogs rallied in the bottom of the second, scoring one off the Kansas City starter Erik Manoah.

Jake Dahlberg continued to pitch against the Bones through the fifth inning, but with little success. Dahlberg gave up runs to Ramsey Romano in the third and additional runs in the fourth to Christopher Colabello, who also sent a ball out of the park in Chicago.

As the T-Bones bats were hot, starting pitcher Erik Manoah dealt one-run second and third innings, managing to give up only four hits. The Kansas City sizzle continued as Robert Calvano entered the game and threw a scoreless sixth. Mark Magliaro gave up two in the bottom of the seventh.

Newcomer Christopher Colabello added another RBI to his stat line in the top of the ninth, and the T-Bones closer, Nick Lee, ended the night on a “hot” note, pitching the final two innings and giving only a single run away.

The winning pitcher was Erik Manoah (2-0), and the losing pitcher was Jake Dahlberg (2-2).

Kansas City will stay in Chicago to play game two of a four-game series against the Dogs before they travel to the SouthShore of Gary, Indiana, for a three-game series.

The T-Bones with the win jumped to third in the South Division and are now a game above .500 at (18-17). The Dogs dropped to (17-16).

Full and half-season 2019 ticket packages as well as mini plans are on sale online or by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke’s Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale.

• Story from T-Bones