Fargo-Moorhead starting pitcher Tyler Alexander allowed only five hits in a shutout of the Kansas City T-Bones, 4-0, Monday evening at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, N.D.
Alexander threw 133 pitches in the complete-game shutout, his third complete game and first shutout this season. Alexander (12-4), who leads the American Association in strikeouts, managed eight against Kansas City.
Fargo’s Kes Carter led off the first inning with a double against T-Bones starter Mike Kickham and, after Ryan Pineda struck out, a wild pitch advanced Carter to third.
Keury De La Cruz scored Carter on a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Fargo a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, Kickham hit Mike Gilmartin with a pitch, leading off the inning.
After a walk to Carter and a balk by Kickham put Gilmartin on third, Pineda scored him when he grounded into a fielder’s choice, putting the T-Bones down 2-0.
In the sixth inning, back-to-back singles put Josh Mazzola and K.D. Kang on base. After Dustin Geiger grounded into a double play, Brian Humphries singled and scored Kang, making it 3-0.
Carter led off the eighth with a double and was eventually sent home on a sacrifice fly from the American Association’s RBI leader, Mazzola, capping Fargo’s scoring at 4-0.
Kickham (3-4) went 7 innings and allowed four runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out six.
Kansas City (40-53) continues the four-game series against Fargo-Moorhead (49-44) Tuesday evening at 7:02. All of the action can be heard at TBonesBaseball.com.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones