Calvin Drummond Puts the Clamps on Stockade Bats; T-Bones Win 9-1
Following his victory over the St. Paul Saints, Calvin Drummond was looking for his second straight victory Friday night and he tossed his best performance of the season. Drummond put the clamps on the Salina Stockade bats, allowing just 3-hits in 7-innings, and Joe Jackson scored twice and drove in 2 as the Kansas City T-Bones downed the Stockade, 9-1.
The T-Bones would give their starter the lead right off the bat. After Drummond kept the Stockade off the board in the top of the first, Kansas City scored two in the bottom half of the inning. With one down, Patrick Brady lined a single into center before Kevin Keyes was hit by a pitch. Chantz Mack then drew a walk to load the bases and Chase McDonald followed with a sharp single into left that scored Brady. A single by Jackson brought home Keyes and it was 2-0 T-Bones.
Salina starter Brain Smith settled down after that, pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the second and third, but Kansas City added three more runs in the fourth. Chase McDonald led off the inning with his fourth homer of the year to extend the lead to three. Jackson followed with a double before Jordan Edgerton singled to put runners at the corners with no one out. A walk to Omar Garcia loaded the bases bringing Brady to the plate. He grounded down to the third baseman, who misplayed the ball. Two runs scored on the error and it was 5-0.
In the fifth, Kansas City added two more runs. Mack singled to begin the inning and then stole second. He scored on a single by Jackson. Jackson moved to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tony Caldwell. That made it 7-0.
While his offense was staking him to a commanding lead, Drummond was shutting the Stockade bats down. He allowed a one out single in the first, then did not allow another hit until the fourth inning. Following the single he retired the next nine hitters, seeing his run end with a single by Jimmy Heck in the seventh. Heck would eventually score on an error, ending the shutout. That made it 7-1.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Kansas City T-Bones added two more runs to put this game away. Caldwell walked with one down and moved to second on a single by Eddie Newton. A walk to Garcia loaded the bases and Caldwell scored on a walk to Brady. A fielder’s choice scored Newton to make it 9-1 and that would be the final.
Calvin Drummond (2-1) went allowed 3-hits and an unearned run in 7-innings of work. He struck out 7. Joe Jackson went 3-4 with 2-runs and 2-RBI. Chase McDonald went 2-4 with a run and 2-RBI.
These two teams will continue their series tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.
By Robert Pannier
