Following an afternoon-long downpour, it was questionable whether the Kansas City T-Bones would actually play Friday night.
After seven and a half innings, it was questionable whether they would actually win Friday night. The weather did hold off and Kansas City came from behind with three runs in the eighth inning, on the way to winning the series opener over the Lincoln Saltdogs Friday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas.
Right-hander Calvin Drummond got the season started on the mound for the T-Bones. He held Lincoln scoreless until early in the third inning, when Cesar Valera gave the Saltdogs a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Brent Dean.
Lincoln added to the lead in the fourth when Randolph Oduber hit a single RBI to left field to bring Curt Smith home putting the Saltdogs up 2-0.
T-Bones right-hander Kamakani Usui relieved Drummond with two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth and retired Lincoln’s Chris Garia off a fly ball to right field to keep the score at 2-0. Both teams remained deadlocked until the home half eighth inning when the T-Bones began their comeback.
Brett Wiley led off the inning on a four pitch walk from reliever Zac Person. Patrick Brady followed with a flyout to center for the first out of the inning. Christian Correa then singled to right to put runners at first and second. Wiley moved to third on a wild pitch and then Eddie Newton stepped up and delivered an RBI single to make it 2-1 Lincoln.
This prompted the Saltdogs to bring in right-hander Josh Laxer. Following a wild pitch, Correa moved the runners up to second and third.
Marcus Lemon drove in the game tying and winning runs with a single just beyond second base, scoring both runners and giving Kansas City a 3-2 lead.
To keep the Saltdogs at bay, Cody Winiarski threw a quick 1-2-3 ninth inning to secure the win and earn the save for Kansas City’s home opener.
This marked Joe Calfapietra’s first game as manager of the T-Bones. He was previously the manager of the New Jersey Jackals for 14 years. Under his reign, the Jackals reached the league championship series from 2011 to 2015 for five consecutive seasons. He is the sixth general manager in Kansas City’s history. This game also marked the celebration of the T-Bones’15th season.
The T-Bones will continue the 2017 opening series against Lincoln Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. at home. Post-game fireworks are planned along with special military pricing on tickets.
Tickets are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.
– Story from T-Bones