Blasters Dropped by Visiting T-Bones, Forcing Sunday Rubber Match
July 16, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters saw their two-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday night at Joe Becker Stadium in an 11-1 loss to the Kansas City T-Bones. The Blasters never trailed in the ten-run loss, and were outhit 16-5.
Three consecutive hits started the scoring for Kansas City in the top of the first inning. Singles by Tyson Gillies and Starlin Rodriguez had two runners on with no outs, and Jake Blackwood added a double to score Gillies from second. Rodriguez followed Gillies in to score when the relay throw was misplayed. Joplin starter Isaac Hess would retire the next three hitters in the T-Bone order, but Kansas City had claimed a 2-0 lead.
Kansas City's most explosive inning came in the top of the fourth, when six runs crossed the plate in a ten-hitter inning. Vladimir Frias led off with his third home run of the season. A single by Brett Wiley, a fielder's choice and a Sergio Leon double put runners on second and third with one out. Gillies hit into a fielder's choice as well, but the attempted throw home could not get Brian Erie. After a walk to Rodriguez, Blackwood launched his ninth homer of the season, a grand slam. Blackwood's home run extended the T-Bone lead to 8-0.
The lead became ten runs in the top of the fifth on Kansas City's third home run of the contest. Former Blaster Sergio Leon hit his first home run in a T-Bone uniform, a two-run shot that also plated Erie, who had hit a one-out double. Leon hit two home runs during his time with Joplin.
Charlie Valerio provided the sole Joplin run in Saturday's ballgame. In the bottom of the sixth, the first baseman belted his fifth home run of the season well over Joe Becker Stadium's right field fence. Valerio's roundtripper cut Kansas City's lead to 10-1.
The T-Bones finished the night's scoring in the top of the seventh. Brett Wiley was issued a free pass to start the inning, but relief pitcher Ethan Rosebeck recorded outs against the next two hitters. Gillies then drew a two-out walk, and pinch hitter Dalton Wheat doubled to left field, driving in Wiley for the final run of the game.
Former Blaster pitcher Josh Hodges earned the victory for Kansas City, allowing just the one run over seven innings on the mound. Hess was charged with the loss in his first start for Joplin. A bright spot on the mound for the Blasters was Raul Rivera, who concluded the game with two scoreless innings of relief.
With the three game series even at a game a piece, Sunday's 6:05 becomes the rubber match between the Blasters and the T-Bones. Joplin will send lefty Frank Del Valle to the mound against Kansas City's Jared Messer. The game will be proceeded by the Blasters' Praise in the Park promotion, which features music from the band Consumed by Fire.
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