Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short in Kansas City
Published on June 24, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters mounted a rally in the top of the ninth inning, but fell two runs short in a 7-5 loss to the Kansas City T-Bones on Thursday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The series finale, which saw the T-Bones claim the three game series, was played in front of over 9,000 fans in Kansas City.
Home runs gave the T-Bones a lead they would not relinquish in the bottom of the first inning. On the fourth pitch of the frame, Starlin Rodriguez hit his first homer of the season to left field. Three batters later, Jake Blackwood added a solo shot of his own to left. The two round-trippers provided an early 2-0 lead for the T-Bones.
Kansas City extended the lead in the bottom of the third on a pair of hits. Tyler Massey singled with one out, and proceeded to steal second and take third on an error. He then scored when Blackwood drove in his second run of the game on a double. After Blackwood advanced to third on a wild pitch, Brandon Tierney drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center field to give Kansas City a four-run advantage through three innings.
The T-Bones seemingly put the game away in the next inning, scoring three more runs, all of which came with two outs in the inning. A walk to Brian Erie and singles by Rodriguez and Vladimir Frias loaded the bases, and Erie scored when Massey was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch sent Rodriguez across the plate, and Frias scored on an error during the same play.
Trailing 7-0, the Blasters got on the board in the top of the fifth. Axel Johnson recorded his second professional hit on an opposite field single with two outs. Johnson scored two pitches later when Mitch Glasser ripped a triple down the right field line. It was only the second triple hit by a Blaster during the first 33 games of the season.
Carlos Fuentes entered in the bottom of the fifth, and tossed four scoreless innings of relief for the Blasters. He faced just two more than the minimum, allowing only three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. The Blasters turned two double plays behind Fuentes, who allowed only one runner into scoring position.
Joplin scored their second run of the game in the top of the eighth inning. Glasser started the inning by getting hit by his eighth pitch of the season, an Association high. He moved to third on a single by Charlie Valerio, his second of the game. Willie Cabrera drove Glasser in on a fielder's choice to cut the T-Bones' lead to 7-2.
The ninth inning rally was entirely with two outs, after closer Mark Haynes retired the first two Blasters of the inning. The Blasters loaded the bases on three walks to Johnson, Glasser, and Geraldo Valentin. Valerio, who stretched his team-long hit streak to 14 games, then clubbed a two-run single to center. Cabrera followed with a single to right to score Valentin and bring the Blasters within two. However, Aaron Baker retired the final Joplin hitter of the game to preserve the win for Kansas City.
Jared Messer was the winning pitcher for the T-Bones, while Frank Del Valle took his second loss in a Blasters uniform.
The Blasters' road trip now shifts to the Lone Star State, as Joplin begins a three game series with the Texas AirHogs. The two day series will be played at AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie, and starts Friday with a 7:05 first pitch.
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