07/25/2004 2:55 PM - JOLIET, Ill. - The Kansas City T-Bones allowed five unearned runs to the Joliet Jackhammers tonight in an 8-4 loss at Silver Cross Field in front of 5,676.

The T-Bones got on the board first back in the second inning. Eddie Pearson doubled and Cody Nowlin reached base on an infield single. Phil Thompson then singled to right to plate Pearson and give the T-Bones an early lead

But the JackHammers struck right back with three in their half of the second. With two outs, Matt McCay chopped a grounder to third baseman Hiroshi Fujimoto. Fujimoto's throw was into the runner McCay, who reached base safely. The next three JackHammer batters had base knocks, with the big blow a two-run triple off the bat of Gabby Delgado.

In the third, the T-Bones had runners on first and second and no one out, but were unable to convert. The fifth inning saw Kansas City edge within 3-2 on Pearson's run-scoring single to right which plated Chris LePine, but that was as close as the T-Bones would get.

Joliet DH Corey Paul smacked a 1-0 Jon McDonald offering over the right field fence to put the Hammers up 5-2, and Joliet chased McDonald to the showers with three more runs in the sixth, two coming home on Josh Loggins' double to right.

Kansas City got within 8-4 on Nowlin's homer to right in the eighth, which scored Ray Brown, but that would be all the scoring in the game.

Ryan Hader, in his second appearance with the T-Bones, worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out four and allowing just a walk.

Game Notes: McDonald allowed eight runs (three earned) in taking the loss... his record falls to 6-5... the winning pitcher, Steve Hecker, improves to 4-6... three of Hecker's wins have been against Kansas City... Prieto, Brown, Pearson, and Nowlin all had two hits for the T-Bones... the first seven strikeouts for Hecker (he had nine) were looking... RHP Greg Bicknell (5-2, 4.66) opposes Joliet RHP Ben Ally (0-3, 6.20) in the series finale tomorrow at 2:05 pm... the game will be carried live on All Comedy Radio 1340 and www.tbonesbaseball.com.

To view box score, CLICK HERE.