Category: T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones (53-40) found themselves trailing by two in the eighth inning but mounted a comeback to take game two of the series 5-4 Tuesday night over the Sioux City Explores (42-51) at Lewis and Clark Park in Sioux City, Iowa.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Sioux City reliever Ryan Flores walked Kevin Keyes and Kyle Petty to put runners at first and second.

Flores was able to retire Niko Vasquez for the second out of the inning but Chantz Mack stepped up and ripped a double down the right field line to score Keyes.

Sioux City first baseman Tyler Ogle threw the relay throw to third base to attempt to get Petty, who headed back to third after he rounded the bag.

The throw bounced away and into the third base dugout allowing both Petty and Mack to score to give Kansas City the lead, 5-4.

Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the second off X’s starter Keith Picht. Tucker Pennell doubled with one two outs and came home on an RBI single from Cedric Hunter.

The lead went to 2-0 in the top of the fourth on a solo home run from Zane Chavez for Kansas City.

Sioux City mounted its own comeback against newly acquired starter Jared Mortensen for the T-Bones. With one out in the home half of the fourth Nate Samson worked a walk and Dylan Kelly singled. Eudor Garcia followed with an infield single and the bases were loaded.

Joel Davis hit a sacrifice fly to right to score one run. After a Tony Campana walk, Micheal Lang singled to tie the game at two.

In the fifth, Sioux City took the lead on an RBI double from Nate Samson and add to the advantage on an RBI single from Eudor Garcia to make it 4-2. The game stayed that way until the 8th inning when the T-Bones made their rally.

Jeff Walters worked a shutdown eighth and Cody Winiarski notched his 19th save working a scoreless ninth to preserve the win. Rich Mascheri (3-2) worked the seventh inning to pick up the relief win. The loss went to Ryan Flores (4-5).

The win pulled Kansas City even with Fargo-Moorhead, who lost to Lincoln Tuesday and a game the clear of Gary, who were beaten by Sioux Falls in their quest for the American Association Wild Card playoff spot with six games left. The win gave Kansas City their second most wins ever in franchise history at 53 in a single season.

The T-Bones face two more big games in Sioux City with the third game of the four-game series set for Wednesday night in Iowa with the game being aired on the T-Bones Broadcast Network.

Kansas City is set to start right-hander Luis Paula (6-2, 2.91) while left-handed pitcher Hobbs Johnson (3-8, 4.51) will go for Sioux City.

The T-Bones return home for their final home stand Friday night to open a four-game series with the St. Paul Saints.

Tickets are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.

– Story from T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones got off to a great start on Sunday then things turned quickly in favor of Gary SouthShore, which would go on to win the final game of the series 10-5 at U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, Indiana.

In the top of the second Niko Vasquez took Alex Gunn deep off the scoreboard in left to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead.

The good vibes ended in the bottom of the second, when Billy Waltrip could not get out of the inning. The left-hander walked Jose Gonzalez and gave up a single to Ryan Fitzgerald to put runners at first and second.

Cole Fabio followed with a single to load the bases. Waltrip then walked Chase Harris to tie the game at one.

Colin Willis then hit a sacrifice fly to center to give the RailCats the lead at 2-1. Joey Havrilak doubled home two more runs part of a five RBI day for the outfielder.

Cameron Newell then hit a single to center to make it a 5-0 lead for Gary. Waltrip was relieved by Rich Mascheri, who got the final two outs of the second.

In the home half of the third Havrilak and Newell each had an RBI single to make it 7-1 Gary off reliever Gabe Perez. Perez surrendered another three runs only two earned in the fifth on three hits by Gary for a 10-1 lead.

Kansas City fought back with a two-run homer for Nike Vasquez, his second on the game, and a pair of RBI singles from Cedric Hunter, but the T-Bones could not get any closer in the 10-5 final.

The loss dropped both Kansas City and Gary a half-game behind Fargo-Moorhead in the American Association Wild Card race.

The T-Bones’ final road trip moves on to Sioux City Monday for the first of a four-game series against the Sioux City Explorers at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on the T-Bones Broadcast Network with the pregame at 6:45 p.m.

In the Wild Card race for a post-season spot, Gary will travel to Sioux Falls for four while Fargo will play host to Lincoln for five games including a double header Monday.

The T-Bones will send out right-handed pitcher Alex Blackford (1-1, 2.25) in the series opener and newly acquired righty Jared Mortensen (8-1, 2.57) on Tuesday in the second game of the series.

Tickets to home games are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.

– Story from T-Bones