T-Bones Bounce Back to Win Game Two 7-4, Even Series
September 3, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Kansas City T-Bones scored three times in the fifth inning to take the lead and held on the rest of the way, evening their best-of-five Northern League Semifinal series against the Gary SouthShore RailCats at a game apiece with a 7-4 win Thursday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
The T-Bones collected 14 hits and allowed only four unearned runs in bouncing back from a 4-3 loss Wednesday night before the series moves to U. S. Steel Yard in Gary, Ind. for the duration this weekend. Kansas City's Ryan Knippschild (1-0) pitched 7.2 innings to earn the win and the T-Bones scored six of their seven runs with two outs against a trio of RailCats pitchers.
With the RailCats in front 4-3 to start the bottom of the fifth, Luis Terrero singled to lead off, stole second and went to third on a groundout. Terrero scored the tying run on a Craig Hurba ground-rule double and RailCats starter Garret Holleran (0-1) intentionally walked Neb Brown after falling behind in the count. That brought Kyle Heyne out of the RailCats bullpen, and after striking out Jacob Blackwood, Jeff Helps singled home Hurba with the winning run and Ryan Fox followed with another base hit to plate Brown and put the hosts up 6-4.
Holleran was charged with all six runs and allowed nine hits and three walks along with those six earned runs in the first postseason start of his career, one that lasted 4.1 innings.
Meanwhile, Knippschild battled all night for the T-Bones despite a defense that committed four errors behind him leading to each of the RailCats runs. In the first inning, Jay Pecci and Steve Haake reached on back-to-back fielding errors before Cristian Guerrero lined a sinking double into center that skipped past Terrero to score both runs.
Kansas City got both runs back in the bottom of the first on a two-run Brown single and the T-Bones would take their first lead in the fourth when Helps scored from second on an Aharon Eggleston base hit, running over RailCats catcher Anthony Esquer in the process. Esquer, who aggravated an existing injury on the play, was removed from the game following the collision.
The RailCats got the lead back in the fifth again thanks to a pair of errors. With Mike Massaro on first base and two outs, a Pecci line drive to second was dropped by Brown for one error, and then Brown proceeded to throw wildly to first, moving Massaro to third. One pitch later, Haake tripled off Terrero's glove in deep center to plate both baserunners and give the 'Cats their short-lived lead.
Knippschild worked 7.2 innings and allowed seven hits and two walks, striking out four and inducing three double play ground balls. The RailCats coaxed back-to-back walks out of reliever Justin James with two outs in the eight but did not score and Nate Cotton retired the side in order in the ninth to earn the save.
Terrero led Kansas City with three hits, while Eggleston, Greg Jacobs and Helps each picked up two. Massaro was the only RailCat with more than one hit, collecting singles in the second and fifth innings.
The series moves to U. S. Steel Yard for Game Three Friday night at 7 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m. The RailCats will be giving away free Championship Hats to the first 1,000 fans at Friday's game, courtesy Salvi, Schostok and Pritchard, P.C. The 'Cats will also present a postgame fireworks show sponsored by First Midwest Bank and the Post-Tribune. Tickets to Friday's game are available by calling 219.882.2255 or visiting www.railcatsbaseball.com.
The RailCats will send right-hander Derell McCall to the mound in Game Three against Kansas City's Cody McAllister. The game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.
Notes: The RailCats and T-Bones split 10 games at CommunityAmerica Ballpark this year, eight during the regular season and two in the playoffs ... the top-seeded RailCats earned home field advantage in the series and went 34-14 at U. S. Steel Yard this summer ... Brett Wallace made his first appearance of the series after Esquer's injury and went 1-for-1 with a walk.
Northern League Stories from September 3, 2009
- Offense Supports Solid Outing by Knippschild - Kansas City Monarchs
- T-Bones Bounce Back to Win Game Two 7-4, Even Series - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Winnipeg Error Lifts RedHawks - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- Goldeyes Trio Earns Post-Season Honours - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Tony Cogan Named to Northern League Full Season All-Star Team - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Eggleston Selected as Post-Season All-Star - Kansas City Monarchs
- Northern League Announces 2009 Post Season All-Star Team - NL
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