April 9, 2024 - Kansas City Cyclones Sweep Drillers
4/9/2024by Skip Remington
Alex Peplow named MVP as Cyclones sweep
Alex Peplow named MVP as Cyclones sweep

Kansas City Cyclones Sweep Drillers

 

April 9, 2024 - Kansas City, MO - The Kansas City Cyclones emerged victorious in their three-game series against the Tulsa Drillers, winning two out of three games in a tightly contested matchup at Cyclone Stadium. The series featured standout performances, nail-biting finishes, and an unfortunate injury to Tulsa's Bob MacPherson.

 

Game 1: Cyclones Edge Drillers in Defensive Battle, 2-1

 

The series opener was a pitcher's duel that saw the Kansas City Cyclones narrowly defeat the Tulsa Drillers. Cyclones' pitcher Marty Sass delivered a strong performance, striking out seven and allowing only one run over seven innings. Hector Martinez of the Drillers was equally impressive, pitching seven innings and giving up two runs while striking out five.

 

Kansas City's Mo Hayes broke the deadlock in the third inning with a solo home run. The Cyclones' defense was stellar, with center fielder Alex Peplow making several key catches to keep Tulsa at bay. Despite a late push by the Drillers, Cyclones' closer Bryce Banwell secured the win, striking out three in two innings to preserve the lead.

 

  • Player Quotes:
    • Marty Sass: "I felt good out there tonight. My fastball was working, and I had great support from my defense."
    • Mo Hayes: "That home run felt great. We needed a spark, and I’m glad I could provide it."

 

Inning-by-Inning Summary:

  • 1st to 2nd: Both teams struggled to generate offense, with Tulsa's Raul Miranda and Kansas City's Alex Peplow managing singles but failing to score.
  • 3rd: Kansas City broke the deadlock with a solo home run by Mo Hayes, followed by an RBI single from Tim Murray, giving them a 2-0 lead.
  • 4th to 5th: Tulsa's bats remained quiet as Sass continued to dominate.
  • 6th: Tulsa’s Bob MacPherson walked and later scored on a ground-out double play, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
  • 7th to 9th: Cyclones' closer Bryce Banwell secured the win, striking out three in two innings to preserve the lead.

 

Player of the Game: Marty Sass, who held the Drillers to just one run with an impressive seven-strikeout performance.

 

Box Score:

  • Tulsa Drillers:
    • Raul Miranda: 1-4, BB
    • Bob MacPherson: 0-3, R, BB
    • Mark Hagerty: 1-4, 2K
  • Kansas City Cyclones:
    • Alex Peplow: 3-3, BB
    • Mo Hayes: 1-4, HR
    • Tim Murray: 2-4, RBI

Game 2: Cyclones Stage Comeback, Win 7-6

 

Game 2 saw the Cyclones rally from an early deficit to claim a dramatic 7-6 victory. The game was marked by a significant injury to Tulsa’s Bob MacPherson, who hyper-extended his knee in the first inning after colliding with the shortstop while trying to catch a pop fly. He is expected to miss seven games.

 

Tulsa's early offensive burst included solo homers by Dave Schultz and Jose Juarez. However, Kansas City’s resilience shone through with Bobby Kulak's game-tying three-run homer in the third inning. The Cyclones' bullpen played a crucial role, with Tyler Rickenbacker closing out the game.

 

  • Player Quotes:
    • Bobby Kulak: "The pitch was right where I wanted it. I just swung hard and connected. It was great to see it go over the fence."
    • Hector Martinez (Tulsa’s pitcher): "It’s always tough to lose close games like this. We fought hard, but they just had the better day."

 

Inning-by-Inning Summary:

  • 1st: Tulsa's Raul Miranda and Rico Morales each contributed RBIs for a 1-0 lead.
  • 2nd: Tulsa extended their lead with solo homers from Dave Schultz and Jose Juarez, making it 3-0.
  • 3rd: Kansas City answered with a three-run homer by Bobby Kulak, tying the game at 3-3.
  • 4th: Cyclones added two runs, including an RBI single from Mo Hayes, taking a 5-3 lead.
  • 5th: Mark Hagerty's two-run homer for Tulsa tied the game at 5-5, but Cyclones retook the lead with an RBI single from Kulak.
  • 6th: Michael Nelson's homer put Tulsa ahead 6-5, but Kansas City scored two in the bottom half, including a sacrifice fly from Pete Myers for a 7-6 lead.
  • 7th to 9th: Cyclones' bullpen held firm, with Tyler Rickenbacker closing out the game.

 

Player of the Game: Bobby Kulak, who drove in four runs, including a game-tying three-run homer.

 

Box Score:

  • Tulsa Drillers:
    • Raul Miranda: 1-4, 2R, BB
    • Rico Morales: 4-5, RBI, R
    • Mark Hagerty: 1-3, HR, 2RBI, 2BB
  • Kansas City Cyclones:
    • Alex Peplow: 2-5, 2B, R
    • Bobby Kulak: 2-5, HR, 4RBI
    • Mo Hayes: 2-5, RBI, 2R

Game 3: Cyclones Win in Walk-Off Fashion, 8-7

 

The final game was a thrilling contest that saw the Cyclones claim victory with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th inning. Kansas City overcame a three-run deficit, demonstrating their tenacity and ability to perform under pressure.

The Drillers started strong, scoring three runs in the first inning, with Melendez and Juarez leading the charge. However, the Cyclones' bats came alive with key hits from Peplow and Fritz. The game saw several lead changes, with both teams battling fiercely.

 

  • Player Quotes:
    • Alex Peplow: "We never gave up. Every player stepped up when it mattered most. The walk-off hit is a moment I'll never forget."
    • Mark Hagerty (Tulsa’s first baseman): "It was a hard-fought series. We had chances, but they capitalized better. We’ll come back stronger."

 

Inning-by-Inning Summary:

  • 1st: Tulsa jumped to a 3-0 lead, with Juarez and Melendez each driving in runs.
  • 2nd to 3rd: Cyclones chipped away at the lead, scoring three in the 4th to tie it at 3-3.
  • 4th: Drillers responded with two runs, highlighted by Melendez's two-run homer, regaining the lead at 6-5.
  • 5th: Cyclones tied it again at 6-6 with an RBI single from Alex Peplow.
  • 6th to 7th: Melendez hit another homer, his second of the game, giving Tulsa a 7-6 lead.
  • 8th: Adam Jay's solo homer tied the game once more at 7-7.
  • 9th: Tim Murray doubled, and after a single by Nick Ladd, Nathan Fritz's RBI double tied the game. Peplow's walk-off single secured the win for Kansas City.

 

Player of the Game: Alex Peplow, whose walk-off single sealed the series win for the Cyclones.

 

Box Score:

  • Tulsa Drillers:
    • Raul Miranda: 2-5, 2K
    • Mark Hagerty: 2-5, 2R
    • Vincent Melendez: 3-4, 2HR, 4RBI
  • Kansas City Cyclones:
    • Alex Peplow: 3-5, 2RBI
    • Bobby Kulak: 1-4, 2B, 2RBI
    • Tim Murray: 2-4, R

Series MVP: Alex Peplow - Peplow was instrumental in the Cyclones' victories, consistently delivering key hits, including the walk-off single in Game 3. He batted .400 for the series with multiple crucial RBIs, solidifying his role as a clutch performer for Kansas City.

This series showcased the resilience and competitive spirit of both teams, with the Cyclones ultimately prevailing in an exhilarating matchup. The Cyclones now look ahead to maintain their momentum in the coming games, while the Drillers will have to regroup and adjust to the temporary loss of Bob MacPherson.

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