KANSAS CITY, Kan. – After allowing 11 runs in the first game of the season, the T-Bones quieted the bats of the Lincoln Saltdogs, winning 3-2 Friday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Starting pitcher Rick Zagone (1-0) was dominant for the T-Bones, going six innings and giving up one earned run and one walk while striking out three. Fifty-one of his 75 pitches were thrown for strikes.
“We wanted five innings out of our starters, and he gave us six solid innings out there,” T-Bones manager John Masserelli said of Zagone.
The T-Bones took a 2-0 lead in the first when the second batter of the inning, Byron Wiley, doubled in David Espinosa against Lincoln starter Eric Brooks (0-1). Two batters later, Bryan Sabatella hit a single that scored Wiley.
Kansas City added a needed insurance run in the seventh inning when Brian Erie hit an RBI single that scored T.J. Mittlestaedt.
Chris Squires notched is first save of the year with a perfect ninth inning.
The game, which last 2 hours and 28 minutes, was a far cry from the season opener that started Thursday night and ended Friday night with an 11-7 T-Bones loss to Lincoln in 16 innings.
That game was suspended shortly after midnight because of the American Association’s curfew rule, and finished Friday. Total playing time was 5 hours, 30 minutes.
The T-Bones will face off with Lincoln at 7:05 on Saturday night in the third game of the four-game series. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
