Sports stats



AA Kansas City Monarchs

Pitching Struggles in T-Bones' Loss

August 1, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Kansas City Monarchs News Release


GARY, Ind. - Kansas City spotted Gary SouthShore seven runs through five innings, which was too much of a deficit in an 8-5 loss Friday night at the U.S. Steel Yard.

For the third time in this series, the RailCats took a 2-0 lead. Unlike Thursday night, though, when the T-Bones pitchers were able to hold the Gary SouthShore offense at bay long enough for Kansas City to take the lead and go on to win 8-3, the T-Bones' first two pitchers, Rick Zagone and Jared Messer, gave up nine hits and eight runs through 5 1/3 innings.

Kansas City's offense finally got to Gary SouthShore starter Stephen Bougher in the top of the sixth inning. Trailing 7-0, T.J. Mittelstaedt tagged Bougher (6-5) for a one-out home run, Mittelstaedt's 12th of the season. Then, with two outs, Matt Padgett singled, moved to second on a base hit by Ray Sadler, and then scored on a double by Nick Schwaner.

The RailCats, however, answered with an insurance run against reliever Messer in the bottom of the sixth for an 8-2 lead. It was the third run Messer gave up in 2 innings of relief. For the starter Zagone (6-5), who was Kansas City's most dependable starter early in the season, it was another rough outing. Zagone exited after 3 1/3 innings, allowing five runs and five hits. It was the fourth consecutive start in which he's allowed at least five runs.

The T-Bones put together a two-out rally in the seventh. With Vladimir Frias and Brian Erie on base with two outs against relief pitcher Chuck Fontana, Danny Richar singled in Frias. Padgett then roped a double that scored Erie and Richar that cut the RailCats lead to 8-5.

Padgett, who was one of the league's best hitters last season and re-joined the T-Bones earlier this road trip on July 25, had his first three-hit game in a T-Bones uniform since July 30, 2013. He went 3-for-5 Friday with a run scored and two RBIs.

Kansas City started the eighth with back-to-back hits and looked primed for another come-from-behind win, but Frias and Erie both struck out, and Robby Kuzdale ended the comeback bid with a groundout.

Check out the Kansas City Monarchs Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Association message board...

American Association Stories from August 1, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central