Series Finale Goes to Kansas City Despite Glasser's Four Hits
June 13, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters fell victim to a decisive four-run third inning by the Kansas City T-Bones, and dropped the series finale in Kansas City by a 7-4 margin at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The win gave the series victory to the T-Bones, marking the third road series defeat in three tries for the Blasters.
The T-Bones scored in the first inning for the second consecutive game, plating a pair of runs. In the four game series, the victorious team scored in the opening frame in every contest. Tyler Massey started the bottom of the first with a double, but was thrown out at third base when the second hitter, Vladimir Frias grounded into a fielder's choice. Jake Blackwood then put the T-Bones on the board with his second homer of the season.
Three singles allowed the Blasters to even the game in the top of the third inning. Mitch Glasser and Geraldo Valentin each hit safely, which brought Charlie Valerio to the plate. Valerio drilled a single to right field, and advanced to second on a fielding error. The single scored Glasser and moved Valentin to third base. Valentin scored on a sacrifice fly by Willie Cabrera, but Valerio was stranded at second after another flyout ended the inning.
Kansas City's four run bottom of the third began with a single by Massey and a walk to Frias. A single by Blackwood scored Massey, the second RBI of the game for the first baseman. Anthony Gallas then hit into a fielder's choice, but an error allowed Frias to score. Brett Wiley and Christian Torres added to the lead with RBI singles, giving the T-Bones a 6-2 advantage when the inning reached its end.
In the sixth inning, the teams traded solo home runs to move the score to 7-3. The top half of the frame saw Cabrera belt his fourth home run of the campaign, and his second opposite field longball of the series. Kansas City answered with a homer from Torres, his first of 2016.
The seventh inning featured Evan Bell making his professional debut. The former Indiana Hoosier tossed a scoreless frame, facing the minimum three hitters. Winston Abreu also pitched for the Blasters, striking out all three T-Bones he faced.
Oscar Mesa concluded the scoring in the top of the ninth inning, hitting a home run to right center field, his first of the season. The Blasters would bring the tying run on deck, but could not come any closer than three runs.
Glasser was the brightest spot in the Joplin lineup, going 4-for-5 with a run scored. Glasser's four singles made him just the second Blaster to record a quartet of hits in a single game, joining Charlie Valerio. It stretched Glasser's team-high hitting streak to nine games.
In his first start of the season, Frank Del Valle pitched six innings and took the loss for the Blasters. Jordan Cooper picked up his first victory of the season for the T-Bones over seven strong innings of work.
After completing a seven-game road trip in Laredo and Kansas City, the Blasters return to Joe Becker Stadium on Tuesday night to start a three game set with the Laredo Lemurs. First pitch from Joplin is set for 6:35 p.m., and will feature righthanders Patrick Mincey and Ryan Beckman on the mound.
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