By MATT FULKS, tbonesbaseball.com
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Kansas City couldn’t hold a five-run lead and fell 6-5 to Amarillo Tuesday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Kansas City jumped out to an early lead on Amarillo starter Chandler Barnard, who allowed the first six Kansas City batters to reach and failed to record an out before being taken out of the game. Matt Padgett, Nick Schwaner, Bryan Sabatella and Chris Bianchi all collected RBIs as Kansas City scored five runs in the first inning for the second night in a row. Padgett, the lone T-Bones batter with more than one hit, ended with a perfect 4-for-4 night.
Down 5-0, the Sox came roaring back over the game’s next three innings. Kansas City starter Derek Gordon (1-1) loaded the bases with nobody out in both the second and third innings, surrendering two runs in each frame. Trailing 5-4 in the fourth, Geraldo Valentin singled and Ransom LaLonde doubled before Derek Perren grounded out, scoring Valentin and tying the game at 5-5. Joe Weik then laced a single into right field, scoring LaLonde and giving Amarillo a 6-5 lead. Gordon, who lasted only 3 innings for Kansas City after allowing four runs on five hits and four walks, took the loss.
The Amarillo bullpen combined to toss eight shutout innings after Kansas City’s five-run first. Derek Blacksher (4-9), who relieved Barnard in the first inning, allowed only two base runners in 7 innings. Randy Hamrick pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save.
With the loss, the T-Bones fall to 39-48 on the season, while the Sox move to 31-54. Kansas City concludes its three-game series with Amarillo Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m.
Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.
