SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – With a 6-5 win over the Schaumburg Flyers tonight at Alexian Field, and a loss by the Gary SouthShore RailCats in Joliet, the Kansas City T-Bones enter their final series of 2007, a five-game home set versus Gary, with a one game advantage.  The loss by the Flyers eliminated them from playoff contention, leaving just Gary and Kansas City alive in the South Division.

Schaumburg got an early lead against Anthony Boughner (pictured) in the first on an RBI single from Pat O’Sullivan and an RBI fielder’s choice from Dario Delgado.

The T-Bones got a run back off Drew Dickinson in the second on an RBI double from Aharon Eggleston and tied the game at two with an RBI single from Al Benjamin in the third.  They loaded the bases against the Flyers southpaw in the fourth with two singles and a walk, eventually taking a 3-2 lead when Mario Delgado was hit by a pitch, forcing in Patrick Arlis.

After allowing the two first-inning runs, Boughner set down 11-in-a-row before giving up back-to-back singles to Billy Malone and Alex Fonseca in the fifth.  Fonseca’s single plated Malone who had advanced to second on a stolen base.  A double from Mike Rohde later in the inning scored Fonseca and gave Schaumburg a 4-3 lead after five.

Kansas City answered quickly, scoring their final three runs in the sixth inning on an RBI triple from Rob Watson and a two-run home run from Benjamin, his 12th of the season.  Dickinson left after walking the next hitter, Calvin Pickering, and was charged with the loss after allowing six runs on 11 hits in five and two-thirds innings.

Boughner allowed one more run on an RBI triple to Rohde in the seventh before giving way to Dan Jackson with two outs.  Jackson struck out Jimmy Hurst to leave Rohde stranded at third while maintaining Kansas City’s one-run lead, 6-5.  Boughner improved to 8-4 after allowing five runs on nine hits in six and two-thirds innings.

Jackson allowed one baserunner in a scoreless eighth before Matt Schweitzer came in to pitch the ninth.  The left-hander walked Fonseca to lead off the inning but a poor bunt from Alexander Derhak gave Schweitzer time to get Fonseca at second.  He then struck out Anthony Monegan and Rohde to end the game, picking up his seventh save of the season.

Rohde went three-for-five, falling a home run short of the cycle in the contest.  Benjamin paced the T-Bones, going two-for-four with three RBI.

Kansas City heads home to take on Gary for five games in their final series of the season.  The T-Bones enter the series with a one-game lead over the RailCats.  Tomorrow’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

Game Notes:  After being held to four hits on both Saturday and Sunday, Kansas City has now posted 12 hits in two straight games.  Seven of their 12 hits tonight went for extra bases:  five doubles, a triple and a home run…Tonight’s victory puts Kansas City’s record at Alexian Field since 2003 at 17-26…Every starter but Calvin Pickering got a hit for Kansas City.  Pickering did reach base though as he drew a walk after Benjamin’s home run in the sixth.  He has reached safely in 20 of his 22 games played against the Flyers…Flyers designated hitter Jimmy Hurst and manager Steve Maddock were both ejected following an inning-ending strikeout by Hurst in the seventh inning.