Tbonesbaseball.com
T-Bones starter Josh Rainwater allowed only two hits through a complete game, but Kansas City struggled offensively as four St. Paul pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout, 3-0, on Thursday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
The Saints first got on the board when Jose Hernandez scored on a fielder’s choice by Miles Durham in the second inning. Rainwater (4-6) threw four perfect innings after that, but then St. Paul added two more runs in the top of the seventh.
Ole Sheldon led off the inning with a walk, and the next batter, Ronnie Bourquin, reached first on an error by T-Bones shortstop Devin Goodwin. Both Sheldon and Bourquin scored on fielder’s choices, and the runs gave the Saints a 3-0 advantage.
“It’s pretty disappointing when you give up two hits and don’t get a win,” said manager Kenny Hook. “I think the defense failed (Rainwater). The two hits were both infield hits, so (the Saints) weren’t squaring up on him. The defense made a couple mistakes, didn’t get him that double play in the seventh inning, and that’s the difference in the game.”
Collectively, the T-Bones recorded five hits, but the Kansas City hitters went zero for four with men on base. Saints starter Robert Coe (8-3) gave up four hits and one walk over 6 2/3 innings. Dustin Klabunde got his eighth save of the season after working a scoreless ninth.
Kansas City (35-31) continues its nine-game home stand on Friday with the first game of a three-game series against the Grand Prairie AirHogs (40-24).
First pitch at CommunityAmerica Ballpark is scheduled for 7:05. To purchase tickets, call 913-328-5618.
