The St. Paul Saints hit three home runs, adding to their league-leading total, and beat Kansas City, 10-3, in the finale of their four-game series Sunday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
St. Paul’s offensive onslaught was highlighted by a three-run home run from Alonzo Harris in the fourth inning and leadoff, back-to-back home runs from Angelo Songco and pinch-hitter Sam Maus in the ninth.
The Saints now have an American Association-leading 97 home runs on the season. The team behind them in homers, Laredo, started the day with 76.
Kansas City got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the second, as Brent Peterson lined a double off the wall in left and scored Vladimir Frias from first base.
The two teams exchanged runs in the third. In the top of the inning, Alonzo Harris singled, stole second and scored on a base hit by Vinny DiFazio.
Then, in the bottom of the third, Kansas City re-took the lead, 2-1, when Starlin Rodriguez hit a solo home run, his first since joining the T-Bones on Aug. 6. That’s the last lead of the game for Kansas City.
The Saints put together a four-run fourth inning, which included Harris’ home run. Kansas City got another home run in the fourth, this time by Kyle Robinson, but St. Paul’s pitching shut down the T-Bones the rest of the way.
After facing a 13-game winner on Friday and a 12-game winner Saturday, the T-Bones went up against 13-game winner Dustin Crenshaw on Sunday. Crenshaw (14-2) allowed six hits and three runs, but struck out four in 5 innings. Kansas City’s offense fizzled out in the late innings, with a single from Nate Tenbrink in the eighth and a single from Jacob Hayes in the ninth being the only hits for the T-Bones in the final four innings of the game.
For the second game in a row, Jake Blackwood was shut down offensively, going 0-for-4, which had not occurred since back-to-back hitless games against Sioux Falls at the end of July.
Kansas City had a pair of exceptional defensive plays in Sunday’s loss. In the top of the second, Starlin Rodriguez fully laid out on a diving catch, robbing Nate Hanson of a hit and preventing Joey Paciorek from scoring.
In the eighth, Vladimir Frias made an outstanding play, making a leaping, cross-body throw from shortstop to first, keeping Dan Kaczrowski from reaching base.
Dustin Loggins (3-7) gave up five runs and six hits in 4 innings, and received the loss.
Kansas City (47-45), which lost three out of four to St. Paul, starts its final home series of the regular season, with four games against Laredo, beginning Monday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the box office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618 or online at TBonesBaseball.com.
– Story from T-Bones