By MATT FULKS, tbonesbaseball.com
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Ray Sadler led the way for Kansas City as the T-Bones defeated St. Paul 5-2 in game one of a doubleheader that included a 1 hour, 53-minute rain delay Friday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
Sadler got things started for Kansas City in the second inning, tripling off the centerfield wall. Nick Schwaner then grounded out, scoring Sadler and giving the T-Bones an early 1-0 lead.
The Saints appeared primed for a big inning in the fourth. Angelo Songco singled and Jake Taylor walked before Joe Bonfe grounded out, moving both Songco and Taylor into scoring position with only one out. Kansas City starter Jared Messer (5-3) then threw a wild pitch, allowing Songco to score and tying the game. But Messer and the T-Bones managed to escape the inning without any further damage.
Kansas City took the lead right back in its half of the fourth. Sadler continued his big night at the plate with an RBI double, scoring Matt Padgett, who walked earlier in the inning. Bryan Sabatella then beat out an infield single, scoring Sadler and extending the Kansas City advantage to 3-1.
The T-Bones struck again in the fifth, picking up two more runs courtesy of a triple by Danny Richar, pushing their lead to 5-1. That would be plenty for Messer, who allowed two runs on six hits while striking out three over 5 2/3 innings of work. Ben Hughes (4-3) took the loss.
Relief pitcher Kris Regas came in for Kansas City in the top of the seventh. As he recorded the first out of the inning, the skies opened, causing the extended rain delay. When play resumed, Regas finished the Saints and recorded his 22nd save.
With the win, the T-Bones moved to 44-52 on the season, while the Saints fell to 48-48. The second game of the doubleheader was scheduled to begin at approximately 10 pm.
