T-Bones offense missing against Link

In a game that was closer than its final score, Wichita scored five runs in the final two innings and beat Kansas City 7-1 Monday night in the Kansas Turnpike Showdown in Wichita, Kan.

Wichita starter Jon Link could’ve been mistaken for Houdini with the number of times he escaped trouble during his seven solid innings. Link allowed six walks in seven innings. But, with Kansas City’s offense getting only two hits and stranding eight runners, Link held on for this third win of the season.

T-Bones starter Matt Smith (0-3) took the loss despite a solid outing. Through six innings, Smith had allowed just two runs. One costly mistake turned the game around, though, when he gave up a two-run home run to Chris McMurray in the bottom of the seventh that gave the Wingnuts a 4-1 lead. Wichita added three more runs — two unearned after the only error of the game came against T-Bones shortstop Vladimir Frias — against reliever Jared Messer in the eighth.

With Wichita leading 1-0 in the third inning, David Espinosa scored Brian Erie on a groundout. That turned out to be Kansas City’s only run of the game.

The Wingnuts took the lead for good in the fifth inning when Colt Loers drove in McMurray on an RBI single, giving Wichita a 2-1 lead.

The T-Bones (12-13) and Wingnuts (18-8) continue their three-game series Wednesday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium at 7:05.

Box score: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=177778

– Story from T-Bones

T-Bones win; Zagone remains undefeated

After a shaky first inning, starting pitcher Rick Zagone led the T-Bones to a 7-6 victory against the Laredo Lemurs on Sunday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

Zagone pitched 6 1/3 innings, surrendering seven hits and giving up five earned runs. He walked no batters and struck out four. Zagone improves his record to 4-0 for the season.

Laredo sent seven batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring three runs on RBI doubles by Travis Denker and Gerardo Avila. Zagone then retired 15 Lemur batters in a row.

Danny Richar led the T-Bones offensively, going 3 for 4 with a two-run home run, an RBI single and a stolen base. The homer was his second of the season.

David Espinosa added to the T-Bones scoring with a two-RBI triple in the third inning. He also scored two runs on the day.

Darrell Hudson and Brian Erie also chipped in with one RBI apiece.

Laredo attempted a comeback, scoring two runs in the seventh. One was on a sacrifice fly by Josh Scheffert and the other on an RBI single by Nick Van Stratten.

With the win, the T-Bones (12-12) take the series against Laredo two games to one. The team resumes action on Tuesday night in Wichita. The T-Bones return home on June 17 with a three-game series against Sioux City. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
– Story from T-Bones

Giarraputo’s blast lifts T-Bones

Nick Giarraputo’s first home run of his T-Bones career couldn’t have come at a better time. It was the final run in a three-run fourth inning that helped propel Kansas City to a 5-3 win over Laredo in front of 5,922 Saturday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Laredo struck first with a familiar weapon, the long ball. In the bottom of the second, John Alonso launched a solo home run off Kansas City starter Pat Doyle (2-2).

Trailing 1-0 and looking for their first hit of the game, the T-Bones got to Laredo starter Josh Strawn in the fourth inning. Danny Richar led off the inning with a triple and was brought home as Nick Schwaner flew out to center. Vladimir Frias then reached second on a throwing error by shortstop Devin Goodwin. Two pitches later — a steal and then a wild pitch — Frias scored. That’s when Giarraputo roped a solo shot over the mini-monster in left that gave Kansas City a 3-1 lead.

David Espinosa tacked on an insurance run in the fifth with a two-out triple to deep center, and was advanced home on throwing error to third by Travis Denker.

Doyle allowed just six hits off three runs and struck out five. Kris Regas notched his fifth save with a scoreless ninth. Giarraputo went two for three and scored two runs.

With the win, the T-Bones are now 11-12. They conclude game a three-game series with Laredo Sunday afternoon at 5:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

Box score: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=177760