Errors Cost T-Bones, Canaries Prevail, 8-6
ANSAS CITY, Kan.– The Kansas City T-Bones (33-33) were given a run for their money from the very start by the Sioux Falls Canaries (31-37), and though they tried, they were not able to redeem themselves, losing 8-6.
Sioux Falls scored first in the top of the first when Kevin Taylor was given a second chance when new T-Bones third baseman Jordan George dropped a foul pop up. Taylor then hit a single to right field scoring Brett Vertigan, making it 1-0.
The Canaries furthered their lead even more, 4-0, leaving the T-Bones in the dust when Burt Reynolds hit a double to left field scoring Vertigan, Mike Hart, and Graham Low in the top of the second.
Sioux Falls scored again in the top of the third when Clint Coulter hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Alay Lago and making it 5-0.
Later, Kansas City sizzled their way on the board when Tyler Marincov hit a three-run home run to left-center field off pitcher Alex Boshers, scoring Casey Gillaspie and Roy Morales, making it 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth.
Another one bit the dust as the Canaries scored again in the top of the fifth. Alay Lago was going to be caught trying to steal second by pitcher Jose Mesa Jr., but the T-Bones righty threw wide of second to allow Lago to stay on base. Andrew Ely hit a double to right field that scored Lago. Then, Coulter hit a double to left field that scored Ely, widening the gap to 7-3.
However, the T-Bones fought back in the bottom of the fifth with a Gillaspie ground out to the first baseman that scored Daniel Nava, tightening the score to 7-4.
Then, in the bottom of the eighth, KC’s Dylan Tice hit a double to left field, scoring both Gillaspie and Morales and making it suddenly a close ballgame, 7-6.
In the top of the ninth, the Canaries took advantage of the third error for Kansas City when short stop Ramsey Romano dropped a ground ball off the bat of Lago, allowing hi to reach first base. On a fielder’s choice Coulter advanced to first, scoring Lago and buying insurance for the Canaries, 8-6, in the top of the ninth. And although the T-Bones got on base in the bottom of the ninth, once again they struggled to bring the players home.
The winning pitcher is Alex Boshers (5-3) for the Sioux Falls Canaries, and the losing pitcher is Jose Mesa Jr. (1-1) for the Kansas City T-Bones.
The Kansas City T-Bones will play game two of the three-game series with the Sioux Falls Canaries Wednesday, July 31st at 7:05 p.m. at JustBats Field at T-Bones Stadium. Hear all the action on the T-Bones Broadcast Network with Dan Vaughan on the call.
By Dan Vaughan
photo credit Blythe Dorrian