By MATT FULKS, tbonesbaseball.com
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The T-Bones struggled to throw strikes Monday night, walking 11 batters in an 11-2 loss to the Wichita Wingnuts at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Kansas City starter Pat Doyle struggled with his command through his five innings of work, walking six with two wild pitches. Only 68 of Doyle’s 123 pitches were deemed strikes.
Doyle ran into early trouble in the first, loading the bases with only one out. Chris McMurray then drew a walk, Doyle’s third of the inning, which forced in a run and gave Wichita an early 1-0 lead.
Doyle again struggled to find the plate in the second, walking David Amberson and throwing two wild pitches that allowed Amberson to advance to third. Carlo Testa then smacked an infield single off first baseman Nick Schwaner’s glove, scoring Amberson. Doyle walked Jake Kahaulelio before serving up a two-run double to Brent Clevlen, extending the Wichita advantage to 4-0.
In the seventh, leading 5-0, the Wingnuts scored again because of Kansas City walks. Kansas City reliever Kristhiam Linares walked the bases loaded before walking Amberson and forcing in Wichita’s sixth run. Zach Fowler would relieve Linares, but served up a walk of his own and force in yet another run.
The T-Bones finally got on the board in the eighth when Testa misplayed a fly ball off the bat of Danny Richar that rolled to the wall and scored two. The late rally wouldn’t be enough, though, as Kansas City allowed four more runs over the game’s final two frames. Wichita starter Justin Klipp (3-0) picked up the win for the Wingnuts, tossing seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts. Doyle (1-2) took the loss.
Kansas City falls to 8-10, while Wichita moves to 14-5. The T-Bones continue their series with Wichita Tuesday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
