The Kansas City T-Bones couldn’t find an answer for Gary SouthShore starter Charle Rosario in a 7-2 loss to the RailCats Tuesday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
The game was close until the RailCats broke it open in the sixth. With the game tied at 2-2, T-Bones starting pitcher Josh Hodges (3-5) issued consecutive four-pitch walks to Chase Harris and Jose Gonzalez.
Alex Crosby followed with a single to right that scored Harris and gave Gary SouthShore a 3-2 lead. Josh Tols came in to relieve Hodges and loaded the bases after giving up a single to Elbert Devarie. After Gonzalez was forced out at home on a fielder’s choice grounder by Andy DeJesus, Jarred Mederos gave the RailCats a 6-2 lead with a bases clearing double.
Hodges, who was the league pitcher of the week a week ago, gave up five runs on four hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings. He had retired nine consecutive batters, starting with the final two outs in the third inning, before the one-out walk that started Gary’s rally in the sixth.
The four-run cushion after the top of the sixth was more than enough for Rosario (6-3), who allowed only two runs on four hits and two walks in the complete-game victory. The two runs came on two hits — a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first by Tyson Gillies that tied the game at 1-1, and then a solo homer to Anthony Gallas with one out in the fourth that tied the game at 2-2.
Gary SouthShore added an insurance run in the seventh, when Chase Harris was hit by a pitch from reliever David Holman. He then advanced to third on a bad throw by Holman on a pick-off attempt at first. Martinez launched a sacrifice fly to center that scored Harris.
The T-Bones (29-35) will continue to play host to the RailCats (33-31) on Wednesday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
– Story by Matt Fulks, T-Bones