by Brian Turrel
The Kansas City T-Bones shook off an early four-run deficit to win Sunday evening’s game over the St. Paul Saints 11 – 8. The win kept alive the T-Bones playoff chances going into the regular season’s final game.
The T-Bones play the Saints at 1 p.m. Monday at Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas. The T-Bones are celebrating Fan Appreciation Day with a “Kids Eat Free” promotion and $1 general admission tickets.
The T-Bones earned the win for reliever Grant Sides with three runs in the 7th inning, after the Saints had scored four in the top of the inning. Designated hitter Tucker Pennell struck a two-run double, and center fielder Cedric Hunter hit an RBI single to take the 10 – 8 lead.
The T-Bones added a run in the eighth to complete the scoring, helped by two wild pitches from Saints reliever Ivan Vieitez, who took the loss. American Association Relief Pitcher of the Year winner Cody Winiarski pitched the ninth inning for the T-Bones to get the save.
The beginning of the game did not look promising, with T-Bones starter Jared Mortensen giving up two runs in each of the first two innings, assisted by some leaky defense. The T-Bones hit the ball solidly in the first two innings, but weren’t able to score.
The T-Bones turned up the power in the bottom of the third, with a three-run home run by Niko Vazquez, followed two batters later by Kyle Petty with a two-run homer.
The T-Bones extended their lead to 7 – 4 in the sixth inning, scoring on a sacrifice bunt from second baseman Marcus Lemon and a sacrifice fly from first baseman Kevin Keyes.
The T-Bones are still in contention for the second wild card spot in the American Association playoffs. To take advantage, they will need a win today, along with losses by the Gary Southshore Railcats and Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks.
Photos copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel
Catcher Zane Chavez hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the T-Bones a three-run lead. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)
