In what was a pitchers’ duel for eight innings, the Kansas City T-Bones beat the Laredo Lemurs, 2-1, Sunday night on a wild play in the ninth at Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo, Texas.
Although the term “pitchers’ duel” seems overused, it certainly fits Sunday’s game, as each team’s starter — Jordan Cooper for Kansas City and Ryan Beckman for Laredo — went eight innings and allowed only one run.
That lone run, which was unearned, came in the second inning for Laredo. With two outs, Alvaro Rondon doubled. He then scored when Kansas City shortstop Vladimir Frias committed an error on a groundball by J.D. Pulfer.
Cooper (2-0) then faced two Laredo batters over the minimum in his next six innings, as he gave up seven hits and walked one during the game, but was aided by a double play and two runners caught trying to steal by catcher Cole Leonida.
Lemur starter Ryan Beckman was even more dominant. Beckman didn’t allow a Kansas City baserunner until Leonida singled with two outs in the sixth inning. The T-Bones tacked on two more hits against Beckman, who didn’t walk any batters and struck out five.
But Beckman gave way to reliever Jeff Inman in the ninth, who gave away the game to the T-Bones. With one out in the ninth, Tyler Massey and Jake Blackwood each singled for Kansas City.
After Anthony Gallas flied out, Inman loaded the bases by hitting Dalton Wheat with a pitch. Three pitches later, Inman delivered a wild pitch to Frias that allowed Massey to score. On the play, catcher Zane Chavez, trying to get Massey, made a bad throw to Inman, who was covering home. When the ball went past Inman, Blackwood came in from third and gave the T-Bones a 2-1 lead.
Reliever Mark Haynes (4) shut the door on the Lemurs in the bottom of the ninth.
With the win, Kansas City (12-18) snapped a four-game losing streak and finished the roadtrip with a 1-4 record. Laredo took Saturday night’s contest, 9-1, behind the performance of Matt Sergey, who threw six shutout innings.
The T-Bones return home for a seven-game homestand beginning Tuesday night with three games against Joplin.Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones