KANSAS CITY, KS – The Lincoln Saltdogs hit into three double plays and stranded nine runners in a 6-2 loss to the Kansas City T-Bones on Thursday night.
The defeat made it the first sweep of the Saltdogs (22-17) this season. Lincoln has been swept just two times in the last two seasons and only four times in the Bobby Brown era (three seasons).
The Saltdogs had chances early in the game. They stranded a leadoff double in the first inning and hit into double plays in the second, fourth and fifth frames. They had baserunners in every inning except the ninth.
Saltdogs starter Kyle Kinman was able to hold the T-Bones (24-13) back until the second trip through the order. Leadoff-man Dylan Tice hit a grounder off the third base bag that ended up being a double in the third inning. Then, Todd Cunningham singled him home to open the scoring. Cunningham finished the game with four hits and three RBIs.
Lincoln pulled even in the top of the fifth. Chad Hinshaw pounded a double off the right field wall with one out. Christian Ibarra followed with a single, one of his four hits on the night, to put runners at the corners for Randolph Oduber. The outfielder hit a grounder to shortstop that was misplayed allowing Hinshaw to score and tie the game.
KC got rolling again in the next half inning. Keith Curcio started things with a bunt single. Next, Tucker Pennell drew a walk and the next two batters were hit by pitches to push a run in. Kinman got the next two batters to fly out and got ahead of Taylor Featherston in the count. However, the former big leaguer came through with a two-RBI single to send a couple more home and make it 4-1.
The T-Bones tacked on runs against relievers Jake Hohensee and Derek Gordon in the seventh and eighth innings.
Curt Smith went deep with a solo homer in the eighth to finish the scoring for the Saltdogs. He hit it over the 411-foot sign in the deepest part of the park for his eighth blast of the season.
The Saltdogs managed 10 hits – which equaled their total from the first two games of the series combined. Christian Ibarra was 4-4 and Randolph Oduber extended his hit streak to nine games.
Lincoln will try to move past the dismal series by returning to Haymarket Park. First pitch against the Gary SouthShore RailCats is at 7:05 PM on Friday with coverage beginning at 6:35 PM on ESPN 101.5 FM 1480 AM and saltdogs.com/stream.
For more information on the Saltdogs, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter/Instagram @saltdogsball. For ticket information visit https://saltdogs.com/tickets/ or call (402) 474-2255.