Jordan Cooper got his first win of the season and Kansas City’s offense got timely hits as the T-Bones beat the Joplin Blasters, 7-4, Monday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
The T-Bones got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Tyler Massey began the inning strong for Kansas City with a double to centerfield. He was tagged out at third on a grounder by Vladimir Frias, but then Jake Blackwood gave Kansas City a 2-0 lead with a home run, his second of the season.
Joplin answered Kansas City with two runs in the top of the third. With one out, Mitch Glasser, Geraldo Valentin and Charlie Valerio hit three consecutive singles off T-Bones’ starter Cooper. The third, by Valerio, scored Glasser. Valerio was able to go to second on an error by right fielder Christian Torres. Willie Cabrera’s sacrifice fly to centerfield sent home Valentin, tying the game, 2-2.
The game didn’t stay tied for long. In the bottom of the third, Kansas City’s offense put together four runs against Joplin starter Frank Del Valle.
After Massey reached on a base hit, Del Valle (0-1) walked Frias, setting up Blackwood for an RBI single. The T-Bones scored again on an error by Blasters’ third baseman Cory Morales on a ball off the bat of Anthony Gallas, which scored Frias.
With one out, Brett Wiley singled and sent Blackwood home. Torres ended the scoring with a two-out single to left that scored Gallas and gave Kansas City a 6-2 lead.
Cooper (1-0), a Topeka, Kan., native, allowed seven hits and three runs in seven innings for the T-Bones.
With the win, Kansas City took three of four from Joplin and won its second series of the season. The T-Bones (11-14) begin a three-game series at Wichita on Tuesday night at 7:05. All of the action can be heard online at TBonesBaseball.com.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones