Kansas City grabs early lead behind starter Kenny Durost

EDMONTON, Alb. – The Kansas City T-Bones defeated the Edmonton Cracker-Cats 13-4 Thursday night at TELUS Field for their second consecutive win. Kansas City used a strong pitching performance from starter Kenny Durost, who went the first five innings without allowing a hit and struck out five over six and one-third innings of work.

The heart of line-up complimented the strong pitching effort as Mario Delgado went five-for-six and with six RBI in the game while Calvin Pickering added two hits while driving in three runs to extend his on-base streak to 18. Kansas City exploded in the final two innings scoring nine times to cap the scoring at 13.

After the T-Bones stranded a runner in each of the first four innings they broke through for the game's first run in the top of the fifth. Aharon Eggleston singled with one out before Delgado doubled him home.

The Cracker-Cats fought back in the bottom of the sixth, when Tim Ryan doubled off Durost for Edmonton's first hit of the game.   With a man out, Terrance McClain singled home Ryan to even the game at one. Kyle Nichols then singled in McClain to give the Cracker-Cats a 2-1 advantage.

The T-Bones jumped back in front in the seventh as Nelson Gord led off by being hit by a pitch from starter Dorian Castro. Watson singled him to third knocking Castro from the game. Reggie Rivard relieved, and promptly allowed an RBI single to Delgado which plated Gord to re-tie the game at two. Pickering then broke the game open for good doubling home Watson and Delgado putting Kansas City up 4-2.

Travis Schlicting replaced Durost in the seventh and allowed an inherited runner to score.   The T-Bones would blow things open in the eighth and ninth innings scoring a pair of runs in the eighth and seven more in the ninth to give Kansas City a 13-4 lead.   The T-Bones sent 12 men to the plate in the ninth, with everybody but Gord reaching safely in the inning.

Matt Schweitzer and Danny Core pitched the final two innings, each going one, without allowing a run as the T-Bones picked up their second straight road series win.

Next Kansas City will travel to Calgary to take on the Vipers in a five game series that begins Friday at 8:05.

Game Notes: Calvin Pickering has now reached base safely in 18 consecutive games and in 14 straight road games…Kansas City moved to 5-7 in the series finales this season and have now outscored their opponents in the final game 88-79…Aharon Eggleston collected three hits moving his June average to .375…Durost has now pitched at least five innings in all eight of his starts this season…Every T-Bones starter collected a hit in the game.

- Kansas City T-Bones -