By MATTHEW McMULLEN
tbonesbaseball.com

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The T-Bones scored four runs in the second inning, which proved to be enough as Kansas City took the first game of a doubleheader Saturday over Sioux Falls, 4-2, at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.  

Kansas City took an early lead off Sioux Falls starter Joe Bircher (2-5) and would never look back. Byron Wiley led off the second inning with a single before Vladimir Frias launched a two-run home run over the left-field wall. Brian Erie and Robby Kuzdale both reached base later in the inning and scored on a hit by T.J. Mittelstaedt, helping Kansas City extend its lead to 4-0.

Sioux Falls’ Carlos Mendez hit a solo homer in the fourth that cut the Kansas City advantage to 4-1, but that would be it for the Canaries off Kansas City starter Casey Barnes, who was making his debut for the club. The right-handed Barnes (1-0) scattered six hits with three strikeouts over 5 innings on his way to his first win of the season. Kris Regas tossed a perfect seventh inning for his 11th save of the season.

Game two of the double-header will begin at approximately 7:30. Derek Gordon will make the first start of his professional career, while Sioux Falls will counter with Kye Winter.