The Kansas City T-Bones were three outs away from taking game one of a crucial three-game series with the Lincoln SaltDogs Tuesday night at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Neb.
The T-Bones got out number 25, but the last two outs eluded Kansas City as Lincoln rallied, scoring two runs with the ball never leaving the infield.
Grant Sides was brought into the game in the bottom of the ninth with Kansas City holding on to a 5-4 lead. Brandon Jacobs reached base on an infield single, but Sides was able to strike out Curt Smith for the first out. Tommy Mendonca reached base after being hit by a Sides pitch to put runners at first and second.
Cesar Valera tapped a two hopper toward the third base side of the mound that Sides tried to field but let roll through his legs for an error to load the bases.
The next batter, Randolph Oduber, hit a slow roller toward the right side of the plate that Sides fielded as Jacobs raced home to tie the game. Sides then elected to throw the ball to catcher Tony Caldwell instead of to first. The ball went over Caldwell’s head, scoring the winning run, and Ivan Marin and the SaltDogs won it 6-5.
Early in the night the T-Bones looked like they would be set to take the opener, building a 5-0 lead in the first two innings. Kyle Petty hit a grand slam home run off Lincoln starter Derek Gordon in the first to take a 4-0 lead.
The T-Bones looked to have Gordon on the ropes in the second, when Omar Garcia drove in the fifth run. Two more runners were on base, with only one out. But Gordon settled down and wound up tossing a complete game, getting the win in the end.
Lincoln scored four in the third off T-Bones starter Matt Sergey with Trever Adams hitting a solo home run and Curt Smith hitting a two-run homer to make it 5-3. Lincoln went back-to-back with a Tommy Mendonca home run, and it made the score 5-4.
The teams remained quiet offensively until the home half of the ninth when Lincoln pulled off the comeback. Sides was charged with the loss (1-1) while Gordon (2-2) was the winner. Matt Sergey struck out six in 5 2/3 innings for Kansas City.
The two teams will play game two of the three-game series Wednesday night with the first pitch scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Lincoln ace RHP Carlos Pimentel (5-0, 2.60) will get the nod for the SaltDogs, while the T-Bones will turn to RHP Calvin Drummond (2-1, 4.17).
The T-Bones return home Monday, July 3, to face Sioux Falls in the first game of a three-game series and a seven-game homestand.
Tickets are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.
– Story from T-Bones