The Kansas City T-Bones opened the final series of their three-city road trip the same as they have the first two times on the trip–with a win. The T-Bones shut out the Sioux Falls Canaries 2-0 Friday night at Sioux Falls Stadium.
Kansas City rode the arm of Jeff Walter who went 5 2/3 scoreless innings, notching six strike outs and a shutdown bull pen that worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings to secure the win in Sioux Falls, S.D.
The T-Bones took an early 1-0 lead off Sioux Falls starter Troy Marks in the top of the second. Zach Walters doubled to start the inning and came home on a single from Chase McDonald.
Kansas City added to its lead in the next inning with Leo Rojas working a lead-off walk from Marks, then Eddie Newton followed with a double off the wall in left to make the score 2-0 T-Bones.
Sioux Falls threatened in the fifth and load the bases with one out, but Walters induced a double play ball off the bat of Ty Morrison to end the scoring chance.
In the sixth Walters again faced a tough situation and struck out David Popkins with the bases loaded for the second out of the inning. Cody Winiarski came into the game and strike out Mike Falsetti to end the Canaries scoring hope.
In the eighth inning Rich Mascheri struck out the side to take the game to the ninth. Grant Sides retired the first man he faced with a strike out but gave up a single to David Popkins. Sides worked around an error at second by Zach Walters to retire the final two batters to get the save, his second.
Walters, (1-0), got the win while the loss went to Marks, (0-3). Kansas City struck out 12 Canaries, matching a season high, and the shut out was their second of the season and of the road trip.
In Thursday night’s game, the Gary SouthShore RailCats defeated the T-Bones, 5-2, on the road.
The T-Bones 10-game road trip continues Saturday night with the second game of the three-game series at Sioux Falls. Kansas City will turn to right-hander Scott Carroll (1-1, 2.45) to take the hill, while Sioux Falls will counter with right-hander Miles Nordgren (0-1, 4.00). The game can be heard on the T-Bones Broadcast Network online at tbonesbaseball.com.
The T-Bones return home Monday June 5th to play host to Wichita in the first game of a three-game series. Tickets are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.
– Story from T-Bones