By: Nolan Brooks

CHICAGO, IL— Another day and another doubleheader for the Kansas City T-Bones (20-18) as they split the doubleheader against the Chicago Dogs (18-18), losing the first one 11-4 but taking the second one, 7-3, to win the series.

The T-Bones resumed play in the bottom of the third with Kevin Hamann on the mound, and Chicago wasted no time getting into the game after a double from Edwin Arroyo would tie the game up at one run each. Chicago would then add to the board with an RBI putout that gave the Dogs a 2-1 lead after three innings.

Chicago kept the bats going with back-to-back jimmy jacks from Trey Vavra and Keon Barnum on only the third pitch of the inning to increase their lead to 4-1 the next inning. KC’s Daniel Nava had other plans though after a double from him would score Dylan Tice to cut the Dogs lead down to 4-2 through five innings.

The Dogs had no time for comebacks though after a towering double to right center from Keon Barnum and a double from Victor Roache increased the Dogs lead to 6-2, quieting the T-Bones. Just when the sixth inning crumble seemed to be over with, Chicago continued the scoring with a sacrifice fly to go up 7-2. Chicago’s David Olmedo-Barrera would add into the mix with a two-out triple to bury the T-Bones even deeper and go up 9-2 for the fifth run scored in the sixth inning alone.

The T-Bones would not go away quietly though after a double from Danny Mars and a monster home run from newcomer Chris Colabello cut the Dogs lead down to 9-4. Chicago’s Keon Barnum was having himself a day though, smashing a two-run shot for his second homer of the day keeping Chicago safe with an 11-4 lead through seven innings.

The Dogs closed out game one of the double dip with an 11-4 victory, giving Carlos Zambrano the win (1-0) and Kevin Hamann the loss (1-1).

Game two of the doubleheader started out much better for the T-Bones after an infield single from Shawn O’Malley scored Dylan Tice, a walk walked in a run for KC to give the T-Bones a 2-0 lead early after one inning.

The scoring would continue for KC after a three-run moonshot into the parking garage increased the T-Bone lead to 5-0, and the T-Bones would not stop there, scoring one more after a putout RBI from Forrestt Allday gave the T-Bones a 6-0 lead. Despite two scoreless innings, Chicago would get on the board after three straight doubles from Edwin Arroyo, Rey Gonzalez and Jordan Dean gave Chicago life and cut the KC lead down to 6-2. The Dogs kept on firing and would score one more after a sacrifice fly from Trey Vavra to make it a 6-3 ballgame through three innings. 

The T-Bones offense would respond, however, with a solo wall scraper home run from Chris Colabello to increase the lead to 7-3 KC,  much to the disapproval of the Dogs manager Butch Hobson who was ejected after arguing the home run.

Both teams would go quiet thanks to the bullpen on both sides, but the T-Bones would take game two of the doubleheader 7-3 to win the series over Chicago. KC’s Kenny Koplove (1-1) is credited the win while Luke Westphal (5-1) is credited the loss in game two of the doubleheader.

The T-Bones will continue their road trip as they head to take on the Gary SouthShore RailCats in a three-game series this weekend. 

Hear all the action on the T-Bones Broadcast Network with a first pitch of 7:10 p.m. tomorrow night.

Full and half-season 2019 ticket packages as well as mini plans are on sale now online or by calling (913) 328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke's Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale now.