KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Kansas City T-Bones fell victim to a four-run seventh inning tonight as they dropped the first game of a three-game set to the Gary SouthShore RailCats, 9-5, in front of 6,429 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Both teams plated three runs on four hits in the first inning tonight, keeping the score even after one.  Gary used consecutive RBI singles from Tanner Townsend, Cristian Guerrero and Steve Haake for their three tallies while a two-run double by Greg Jacobs (pictured) and RBI single from Ken Harvey rounded out Kansas City’s first.

Both starters posted scoreless frames over the second through fourth innings before Chris Rhoads surrendered another RBI single to Haake to give Gary a 4-3 advantage.  The RailCats picked up their fifth run in the sixth on a solo home run by Mike Reese to take a two-run lead.

Kansas City got to Jeremy Plexico again in the bottom of the sixth, using a solo shot from Jacobs to pull within one.  The blast was the 100th career home run for the T-Bones rightfielder.

Plexico left after six, allowing four runs on six hits as he improved to 8-3 on the season.

Rhoads surrendered a leadoff home run to Townsend in the seventh before striking out the final batter he faced, Guerrero.  Reliever Tag Horner entered and struck out Haake before giving up five straight hits as Gary capped off a four-run frame to take a 9-4 lead.  Rhoads surrendered six runs on 10 hits in six and one-thirds innings as he fell to 2-4.

Kansas City plated their final run in the ninth on an RBI fielder’s choice from Bo Hart to cap the scoring at 9-5.  Todd Moser entered for Horner with two outs in the eighth and allowed one hit over the final one and one-thirds scoreless innings for the T-Bones.

The two teams face off again tomorrow as Kansas City sends Ty Reese to the mound for his first career start.  He will oppose RailCats hurler Garret Holleran.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.