A strong pitching performance by Mike Kickham and a big day at the plate by Jake Blackwood led the Kansas City T-Bones to a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Goldeyes Sunday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
Blackwood gave Kansas City its first hit and first lead with a solo home run in the second inning. He followed that up with a lead-off double in a 1-1 game in the seventh.
Tyler Massey, attempting a sacrifice bunt, put down one that hugged the third-base line and stayed fair as the Winnipeg defenders waited on it to go foul. With runners at the corners, Anthony Gallas was walked, loading the bases with no outs. Sacrifice flies by Vladimir Frias and Brian Erie scored Blackwood and Massey, giving the T-Bones a 3-1 lead.
Winnipeg starter Kevin McGovern (4-2) had a strong outing, striking out 10 and giving up three hits in 6 1/3 innings, but he was charged with all three Kansas City runs.
Kickham was just as strong for Kansas City. Kickham (2-1) went 7 innings, scattering six hits and walking one while giving up one run. That lone run came in the sixth inning.
Wes Darvill led off the inning with a triple to center field. Maikol Gonzalez followed with a double that allowed Darvill to score.
Kickham got out of the inning with some help from his defense. Gonzalez, trying to score from second on a base hit by Josh Romanski, was thrown out at home by right fielder Starlin Rodriguez.
Mark Haynes recorded his 13th save of the season after giving up one hit and striking out the side in the ninth.
After taking two out of three from Winnipeg, the T-Bones will welcome the Gary SouthShore RailCats to CommunityAmerica Ballpark for a three-game series beginning with Monday night’s 7:05 game. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones