T.J. Mittelstaedt’s monster night led the T-Bones to a 9-6 victory against the Gary SouthShore RailCats on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 6,018 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
Mittelstaedt went 3-for-4 with a single, double and home run. He finished with four RBIs, two runs and was only a triple short of the cycle.
Kansas City scored five runs in the sixth inning. The frame began with four singles, one being an RBI by Darrell Hudson. Mittelstaedt then came through with a bases loaded two-RBI double that tied the game 5-5. Robby Kuzdale scored on a throwing error by Gary pitcher Stephen Hiscock (3-4). Jonny Kaplan made it 7-5, scoring Mittelstaedt on a sacrifice fly.
The RailCats came back with a run in the seventh inning. Derek Smith tried to add another run that would have tied the game but he was thrown out at the plate by Kaplan.
Kris Regas pitched a scoreless ninth inning, notching his 10th save of the year.
Mike Nannini struggled for the T-Bones, pitching 4 1/3 innings, giving up 11 hits, five runs (all earned), one walk and striking out nine.
With the win, the T-Bones (21-21) take the first two games of the series against the Central Division leading RailCats (23-18). Kansas City will go for the sweep in Sunday’s series finale starting 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=177885
– Story from T-Bones