By MATT FULKS, tbonesbaseball.com
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Two big innings sank the T-Bones Monday night as Kansas City fell 10-7 to Grand Prairie at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
The AirHogs jumped all over Kansas City starter Kyle DeVore (3-3) in what would turn out to be a wild first inning, opening the frame with five consecutive singles before recording an out. Already leading 2-0, Frazier Hall lined a double down the right field line with the bases-loaded that scored three more and gave Grand Prairie an early 5-0 lead.
Kansas City would roar back in its half of the first. T.J. Mittelstaedt led off with a home run, his ninth of the season. Danny Richar later singled, stole second base and came around to score on a Bryan Sabatella single, cutting the AirHogs’ lead to 5-2. Vladimir Frias then put an exclamation point on the inning, launching a two-run home run that brought the T-Bones to within one
The first inning in its entirety lasted 37 minutes, saw 73 pitches and nine runs scored between the two clubs.
DeVore would settle down over the game’s next four innings but once again fell victim to the big inning in the sixth. Hall continued his big night at the plate to lead off the inning, hitting a home run to center field. Eric Baker and Jimmy Mojica later singled, ending DeVore’s night.
Alex Nunez then laced an RBI single into center field off reliever Hamilton Bennett, scoring Baker. Brian Myrow later doubled, scoring Mojica and Nunez and extending the Grand Prairie advantage to 9-4.
Kansas City mounted a rally in the eighth, scoring three runs off RBI singles by Ray Sadler and Bryan Sabatella. It wouldn’t be enough, however, as Kansas City lost its third consecutive game.
DeVore struck out a season-high 10 batters, including a stretch where he struck out seven in a row, but allowed eight runs on 12 hits over his 5 2/3 innings in the loss. Ryan Searle (4-5) picked up the win for Grand Prairie. Dakota Watts tallied his 14th save of the season.
Kansas City continues its three game series with Grand Prairie Tuesday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
