T-BONES RALLY LATE AND TOP SALTDOGS 3-2 IN SEASON OPENER

KANSAS CITY, KS – The Lincoln Saltdogs (0-1) led until the 8^th inning but a three-run outburst from the Kansas City T-Bones (1-0) flipped the score and gave KC the season-opening 3-2 win.

Zac Person was charged with the loss and Aaron Brooks earned the win despite Saltdogs pitchers dominating for most of the game.  Bennett Parry got the nod as the opening day starter for Bobby Brown’s bunch and mowed through the T-Bones lineup.  KC didn’t manage a baserunner until the 3^rd inning and didn’t notch a hit until two outs in the 4^th.  Parry lasted five innings and didn’t surrender a run on two hits and four strikeouts.

The Saltdogs bullpen was equally as impressive until the 8^th.  JR Bunda and Leuris Gomez eached tossed perfect innings.  Zac Person struggled from the first pitch of the 8^th.  He issued a four pitch walk to Brett Wiley to start the frame.  He was able to get Patrick Brady to fly out in the next at bat but gave up two singles to the T-Bones’ eight and nine hitters, the second of which scored Wiley.  Then, Josh Laxer came in with runners on first and second with one out.  He got a fly out but threw a wild pitch in the next at bat allowing the runners to move up one base.  Next, Marcus Lemon hit a ground ball that found its way past a diving Trever Adams and required a diving stop by second baseman Cesar Valera.  By the time Valera composed himself, two runs had scored to make it 3-2.

Cody Winiarski earned the save for the T-Bones as he set the ‘Dogs down in order in the top of the 9^th.

The Saltdogs scored their first run of the season in the 3^rd inning when Valera hit a sacrifice fly that scored Brent Dean.  They added to their lead in the next frame via a Randolph Oduber base hit that scored Curt Smith.

The Saltdogs never found the big hit, though.  They had the bases loaded three different times but couldn’t break the game open.  The ‘Dogs left nine runners on base.

Lincoln is next in action tomorrow night as they look to even the series against the T-Bones.  First pitch is at 7:05 PM and coverage begins at 6:35 PM on ESPN 1480 and saltdogs.com.