By MATT FULKS, tbonesbaseball.com
SUNDAY: The T-Bones used a seven-run second inning, highlighted by a Danny Richar home run, and beat Laredo 11-4 Sunday night at Uni-Trade Stadium.
Trailing 1-0 after the first, the T-Bones sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the second inning. Vladimir Frias and Bryan Sabatella each had two-RBI doubles, with Frias’ scoring Byron Wiley and Nick Schwaner, and Sabatella knocking in T.J. Mittelstaedt and Frias.
The big blow came two batters after Sabatella, when Richar launched a three-run homer — his third. Richar, who added another RBI in the third inning, ended the night with three of Kansas City’s 10 hits.
After the T-Bones chased starting pitcher Sean Tracey (3-3) in the second, the Lemurs used five more pitchers in the game. Laredo aided Kansas City with 14 walks and three errors.
Although Matt Smith started the game for Kansas City, he left after giving up four runs in the first two innings. Kyle DeVore, who relieved Smith, struck out five and didn’t allow a run in 3 2/3 innings. He was credited with the win, his first with the T-Bones. The Kansas City bullpen pitched seven shutout innings.
Sunday night’s game, which went 3 hours and 43 minutes, marks the first time in 2014 the T-Bones have scored 10 or more runs in a game. Kansas City’s previous high this season was in a 9-4 win against Wichita on June 3.
The T-Bones (14-16) are off Monday before beginning a six-game homestand, starting with Sioux City on Tuesday night at 7:05 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
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SATURDAY: The Laredo offense continued to sizzle Saturday night, as the Lemurs scored early against Kansas City starter Rick Zagone and went on to win 7-3.
The Lemurs scored three runs in the second and third innings, respectively, and, with a 6-0 lead, ended Zagone’s night after just three innings. It was the first loss of the season for Zagone, who’s now 4-1.
Kansas City got single runs in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings, including one off the bat of Nick Giarraputo, who, in the sixth inning, connected on his second home run of the season. Byron Wiley returned to action with a pinch-hit double in the seventh inning. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Bryan Sabatella.
The T-Bones struggled at the plate, resulting in 15 strikeouts, despite Laredo pitchers issuing eight walks.
Kansas City used three relievers Saturday night, but got a nice boost from Derek Loera who pitched three scoreless innings and scattered five hits in relief of Zagone.
