Jared Messer pitched well in his first start of 2016, but the T-Bones lost their third straight. (File photo by Matthew Hicks.)
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LAREDO, Texas – Pitcher Jared Messer was solid in his first start for Kansas City of 2016, but the bullpen was unable to hold the game late, as the Laredo Lemurs beat the T-Bones, 6-2, Friday night at Uni-Trade Stadium.
Each team swapped runs in the second inning and fifth innings. Kansas City took the lead in the second when Brandon Tierney doubled to left off Laredo starter Leandro Castro, knocking in Anthony Gallas, who had a one-out single to right. But, with Nate Tenbrink, who also singled, at third and Tierney at second, Kansas City could muster only one run, as Steve Swingle and Dalton Wheat each grounded out to third. Laredo scratched across a run, tying the game at 1-1, when Zane Chavez, who led off the second with a walk, scored on a wild pitch. That was one of the few mistakes by Messer, who has been pitching out of the bullpen this season.
Messer’s other rough patch came in the bottom of the fifth. After the T-Bones took a 2-1 lead in the top of the inning on back-to-back two-out doubles by Tyler Massey and Jake Blackwood, Messer gave up a lead-off double to Devin Harris and then a one-out single to J.D. Pulfer, which scored Harris. Messer finished the inning, but that was the end of his night, after giving up four hits, three walks and two runs in five innings.
Laredo took the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh off Kansas City reliever Brett Zawacki (0-3). With runners at second and third and two outs, Zawacki hit Drew Martinez with a pitch. And then, with a 1-2 count to Cesar Valera, Zawacki threw a wild pitch that scored Ty Morrison from third. Valera then doubled, scoring Alvaro Rondon and Martinez, giving Laredo a 5-2 lead. The Lemurs added an insurance run in the eighth off Kansas City reliever Mark Haynes.
Four of Kansas City’s eight hits in the game were doubles. Besides Tierney, Massey and Blackwood, rookie Wheat had one, too.
Kansas City (11-17), which has lost three in a row, and Laredo (16-12) continue their three-game series on Saturday night at 7:05. All of the action can be heard at TBonesBaseball.com.
