05/14/2004 2:22 PM - This afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, the T-Bones eked one out over the International Baseball Academy All-Stars 6-5.

The IBA club, comprised mostly of Japanese leaguers, took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first against T-Bone starter Caleb Balbuena when John Caruso singled in Hiro Fujimoto.

The T-Bones came right back with three in the bottom of the second. Back-to-back walks to lead off the inning were followed by a Cody Nowlin RBI single. An error by the shortstop Naoki Komatsu allowed Chad Shindle to score to make it 2-1, T-Bones. A single and a hit batsman loaded the bases for Jack Jones, who was hit by a pitch to drive in a run and make it 3-1.

Rick Prieto made it 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer off former T-Bone Tony Bacci.

The IBA club put up one in the fifth and two in the sixth to get within one, but the T-Bones scored an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh to make it 6-4.

With a run in the top of the eighth, the IBA closed it to 6-5, but D.J. Johnson shut the door in the top of the ninth, striking out the side and earning the save.

The T-Bones close out their exhibition season with an away game at Lincoln on Sunday at 1 pm. The regular season begins here at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Thursday, May 20, at 7:05 pm vs the Lincoln Saltdogs. Tickets are going fast! Call 913-328-2255 for more information.