The Kansas City T-Bones fought back to take a lead late in Wednesday’s game before the bullpen gave up five runs in the last two innings in a 9-5 loss to Fargo-Moorhead in the series finale Wednesday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
The T-Bones took an early 3-0 lead, scoring a run in each of the first three innings. In the first inning, with Ryan Cavan at third base after he led off the inning with a walk, Adam Bailey lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that gave the T-Bones a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, the T-Bones added another run behind Vladimir Frias’ third home run of the season. Kansas City scored again in the third as a Joe Rapp groundout scored Nate Tenbrink from third base.
With the T-Bones leading 3-1 in the sixth, Kansas City starter Kyle DeVore retired Zach Penprase before giving up four consecutive hits and a walk to Joe Staley. By the time DeVore exited with two outs in the inning, the RedHawks had taken a 4-3 lead.
Kansas City regained its lead in the seventh inning after Jake Blackwood reached on an error that scored Frias. One batter later, Adam Bailey hit an RBI single up the middle that scored Cavan, giving the T-Bones a 5-4 lead.
Manager John Massarelli turned to closer Kris Regas (1-2), who set a T-Bones saves record last year, for the final two innings. The RedHawks weren’t impressed. Fargo-Moorhead scored two against Regas in the eighth on an RBI triple by Joe Dunigan and a bunt single by Chad Mozingo that scored Dunigan.
The RedHawks added three insurance runs in the ninth inning, thanks in large part to a two-run home run by Stefan Gartrell that scored Drew Muren. Regas gave up six hits and five runs in 1 1/3 innings.
T-Bones win 9-5, on Tuesday night
The Kansas City T-Bones continue to stay hot offensively as they defeated the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, 9-5, at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in front of 10,143 fans Tuesday night.
The T-Bones, who have scored at least eight runs in five of their last seven games, were able to get off to a good start in the second inning behind Ryan Cavan’s RBI single to left field that scored Joe Rapp, who reached base on a single to left field. Later in the inning, the T-Bones loaded the bases with two outs, but Nate Tenbrink grounded out to second baseman Frank Salerno, but the T-Bones led 1-0.
The RedHawks answered in the top of the third inning as Chad Mozingo hit a single to centerfield that scored Frank Salerno from second base and tied the game 1-1.
Kansas City’s offense came alive again in the fifth inning. The first two batters reached, as KyleRobinson led off the inning with a single and Adam Bailey blooped a base hit to left. Two batters later, Rapp launched a three-run home run to right against Fargo relief pitcher Bryan Blough that gave the T-Bones a 4-1 lead. Rapp was one of five T-Bones with at least two hits, led by Cavan and Robinson, who each had three.
In the sixth, Kansas City added two insurance runs as Bailey hit a triple down the right field line that scored Tenbrink, who walked earlier in the inning. The next batter, Robby Kuzdale, hit a double to right field that scored Bailey and gave the T-Bones a 6-1 lead.
Kansas City starting pitcher Casey Barnes (2-1) gave up one earned run, five hits, three walks and struck out two batters in 6 total innings. Kansas City relief pitcher Jonathan Kountis allowed four runs in the eighth inning, allowing Fargo to cut into Kansas City’s lead.
Next, the T-Bones go on a road trip to play the Laredo Lemurs at 7:30 p.m. June 12.