In his first start for the Kansas City T-Bones, left-hander Mike Kickham looked sharp, but a high pitch count lead to an early exit. His second start would prove to be no such problem. The 6-4, 220-pound lefty was absolutely dominant, blanking the St. Paul Saints over eight innings for his first win of the season.

Eric Veglahn was making his first start and just his second appearance for St. Paul, and both starters looked incredible on this night. Through the first four innings neither team could score, as the two lefties were absolutely dominant. Kickham allowed just two-hits through the first four frames, and Veglahn didn’t allow his first hit until there was one out in the third. The two pitchers were doing so well that the first four frames were over before the game had even reached 50 minutes.

The T-Bones starter continued to dominate in the fifth, retiring the side in order, but his teammates would give him the lead Brett Wiley in the bottom half of the inning with a single, just the second hit allowed by the Saints starter. Jimmy Mojica followed with a double that moved Wiley to third and brought Dalton Wheat to the plate. He ripped a ball down the line that hit off the bag and rolled into left field. Both runners came around to score and Wheat rolled into second with a double. That gave Kansas City the 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth Anthony Gallas would add an additional insurance run for his starter. With one out, Veglahn got ahead of Gallas, 1-2, but the Kansas City T-Bones turned on a pitch and ripped it over the left-center field wall for his sixth homerun of the season. That made it 3-0.

The three-runs were plenty for Kickham, who seemed to get better as each inning passed. Following the single in the second, he would not allow another hit through the remainder of the game. The Saints had no answer for the left-hander as he allowed just three-walks over the next six-innings, and two of those runners were erased on double-plays.

The only question for the T-Bones starter would be if Manager John Masserelli would give him the chance to become the first Kansas City starter to get a complete game since 2013, however, Massarelli decided he was done after eight. Kirkman (1-0) allowed just 2-hits and 3-walks in his 8-innings of work. He struck out 6.

In the eighth, the T-Bones would add two more runs against Saints reliever Zak Wescott. Gallas was the second batter of the inning and he absolutely crushed an o-1 offering over the left field wall and out of the stadium for his seventh homer of the year. Gallas finished 2-4 with the two solo homers, a great return for the T-Bones slugger after being on the disabled list for the last seven days.

Kickham would not come out for the ninth. Aaron Brown would finish out the game. He would give up a run before retiring Tony Thomas on a deep fly ball. That ended the scoring at 5-1.

After the game, Massarelli had nothing but praise for his starter. “That’s a Big League start there. It’s easy to see why he was in the Big Leagues.”

While disappointed in the loss, Manager George Tsamis was pleased with the performance of Veglahn. “He pitched well. Had a couple of bad breaks but, overall, he pitched really well.”

Wiley finished 3-4 with 2-runs scored for Kansas City. Both Mojica and Wheat also had two hits. Wheat drove in two and Wiley scored a run and drove in another. Angelo Songco had the only RBI for the Saints.

These two teams continue their three-game series tomorrow night. John Straka (5-2, 6.26) will go for the St. Paul Saints. He will be opposed by David Hollman (2-3, 5.71). Game time is 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier