It proved to be a quick game full of strikeouts as the T-Bones failed to rally against the Amarillo Sox in a 6-1 loss on Thursday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in front of 6,204 fans.
The T-Bones put together three hits in the ninth inning – nearly doubling their total for the previous eight innings – off Sox reliever Wes Littleton, but Reid Fronk scored the only run for the T-Bones in the inning.
A night after scoring 15 runs on 19 hits, Kansas City’s offense struggled against Amarillo starter Jack Spradlin (4-2), who went eight scoreless innings, struck out five and gave up only four hits.
“(Spradlin) was a soft-throwing lefty, but we didn’t make good adjustments for that,” said Kansas City manager Kenny Hook. “We tried to attack the ball as soon as it got to the plate, and we kept hitting it into the ground. We also didn’t make him work to get his pitches up. As much as anything, that was the key for us.”
T-Bones starter Devin Anderson (1-4) threw well for 5 2/3 innings, but with two outs in the sixth, Amarillo’s Adam Buschini hit a two-run homer, which proved to be the difference.
The loss brings the T-Bones to 16-17 on the season. Kansas City plays the second of a four-game series against Amarillo on Friday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Tickets are available by calling 913-328-5618.
Before the game, the T-Bones announced the signing of Spiker Helms, a 6-foot, 195-pound infielder, who played collegiately at Longview Community College and Missouri State. The T-Bones had an open roster spot with the retirement earlier this week of Kala Ka’aihue.
