T-BONES SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER WITH EXPLORERS Credit Blythe Dorrian By Sophie Darting
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Kansas City T-Bones’ bullpen and six-run first inning were not enough for them to defeat one of the hottest teams in the league, the Sioux City Explorers, who extended their winning streak to seven games on their way to beating the T-Bones, 7-6, in game one of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.
Sioux City (16-16) attacked first, jumping on Kansas City starter Henry Owens (0-0) early on in the top of the first tinning. After a walk, a stolen base, and an infield single, Jose Sermo stepped up to the plate for the Explorers and roped a single into left field to score Michael Lang and give Sioux City the early lead, 1-0.
The T-Bones (14-15) responded with a big inning of their own, putting up a six-spot. After Danny Mars lined out to start the inning, Kansas City batted around the lineup, and eight straight Kansas City players reached base on their way to putting up a six-spot in the bottom of the first.
It all started with a walk to Dylan Tice, and after Tice got his wheels going and stole second, Daniel Nava ripped a single into right field that scored Tice and tied the ballgame at one run apiece. Another walk, this time by Casey Gillaspie, put runners on first and second with Taylor Sparks stepping up to the plate.
In his 2019 T-Bones debut, Sparks lined a single into left field and Nava scored, but Sparks did not get the RBI credit owing to an error by Sioux City. The T-Bones got another run when Shawn O’Malley singled to score Gillaspie to make it 3-1, T-Bones.
Christian Correa stepped up to the plate and capped off the inning when he launched his second home run of the season off of the first pitch that he saw to deep left field. The dinger was a three-run shot and gave the T-Bones a commanding 6-1 lead after the first inning.
However, Kansas City did not score again during the contest because of Explorers’ relief pitcher Carlos Sierra (0-0) who threw five scoreless innings in relief, only allowing one hit. Sierra allowed Sioux City to drive in six unanswered runs and silenced the T-Bones’ bats.
The Explorers scored one run in the second inning and three runs in the top of the third, but the real damage came in the top of the seventh inning, off of relief pitcher Marc Magliaro (2-2).
Kansas City’s relief pitching had been shutting down the Explorers’ offense all morning after Owens exited the game, with Robert Calvano and Nick Lee each throwing up a pair of scoreless innings. However, with the T-Bones nursing a one-run lead, Sioux City stunned the T-Bones bullpen in the top of the seventh inning. After a pair of two-out singles off of reliever Magliaro came around to score off of Zawada’s double to center field, the Explorers took the lead, 7-6.
The T-Bones were unable to answer the two runs that the Explorers drove in during the top of the seventh and dropped the first game of the doubleheader.
By Gabby Albertson
KANSAS CITY, Kan. –The Kansas City T-Bones took on game two of the doubleheader with the Sioux City Explorers Wednesday, June 19th. After a loss in the first game of the day, they were ready to get back on the field to win, and that’s exactly what they did, making the game score 4-3.
Sioux City was off to a great start and made it on the board first with a score of 3-0. With Nate Samson hitting a single, it allowed Kyle Wren to run home. Then, Adam Sasser hit a double, letting Jose Sermo run home as well. And lastly, Samson scored on a sacrifice fly by Stankiewicz.
Kansas City attempted to score in the bottom of the third when Ramsey Romano hit a single and then stole second base, but with no hits to back him up, he didn’t make it home.
Then, in the bottom of the fourth, Casey Gillaspie hit a single, but nothing came of it since no other hitter was able to make it to base.
After a few innings of the T-Bones not being able to make it on the board, they finally made it, 3-3, tying the game in the bottom of the fifth. Romano hit a single, giving Correa an opportunity to score. Then, Danny Mars hit a double, allowing Brett to score. After that, Mars stole third base and then scoresd on an error by the catcher, Justin Felix.
Breaking the tie was Dylan Tice as he hit a single, letting Brett score in the bottom of the seventh to walk it off. |