08/07/2004 10:13 AM - KANSAS CITY – Greg Bicknell threw his third complete-game of the season in a losing effort as Joliet slipped by Kansas City, 4-3, before a record-setting crowd of 8,510 Saturday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Cody Nowlin drove in a pair of runs for the T-Bones, who fell to 13-10, 33-38, on the season.

Trailing 3-2 after five innings, Josh Loggins homered to left field to tie the game and Gabby Delgado drove in the decisive run with a triple to right-center field to give Joliet (13-9, 37-33) its second consecutive win. Rich Hyde (10-3) allowed three runs in six innings for JackHammers, who regained first place in the South Division – just a half game ahead of Kansas City. Robert Garvin set the T-Bones down in order in the ninth to earn his 14th save.

Bicknell (8-3) allowed four runs on nine hits in his first defeat at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in six starts. Rick Prieto reached base three times with two walks and was hit by a pitch, but went 0-for-2 at the plate to end his 17-game hitting streak; the longest in franchise history and the second longest by any Northern League player this year.

For the second straight night, Joliet took an early lead with a run in the second inning. Josh Loggins led off with a single, moved to second on ground out, and then crossed the plate on a base hit by Jeff Goldbach. The T-Bones came right back with a run in the home half when Nowlin hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Eddie Pearson and tie the game at 1-all.

The JackHammers and T-Bones traded single tallies in the third inning as well. Joliet scored its run when Jermaine Allensworth tripled to left-center field with one out and scored on a base hit back up the middle by Corey Paul. Kansas City tied the game in the bottom of the inning on an RBI-single by Phil Thompson with the bases loaded. The T-Bones took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Mike Brown, who finished 3-for-4 on the night, hit a one-out double down the line in left field and went to third on a wild pitch. Nowlin brought him home with a 2-2 single into center field. Kansas City loaded the bases with two outs for Pearson in the eighth, but the reigning NL MVP’s drive to right field fell just short as Loggins gloved the ball just short of the warning track in right field.

Game Notes: Loggins’ solo shot in the sixth inning drew some controversy as well as arguments from both managers as the homer rune was initially ruled a ground-rule double after a fan, who appeared to be leaning over the wall in left field, interfered with the ball. After some convincing from Joliet manager Jeff Isom, the call was reversed, which brought T-Bones manager Al Gallagher out the dugout to argue, but to no avail... The T-Bones left the bases loaded in the second and third innings… Pearson was intentionally walked for the 10th time this season in the third inning. He is just two shy of matching the Northern League record of 12, held by Anthony Lewis (Duluth-Superior, ’00) and Jay Kirkpatrick (Sioux City, ’00)… The game was delayed for approximately 10 minutes between the third and fourth innings due to an injury to home plate umpire Shawn Arthur. Arthur, who took a foul ball off the face mask in the third, was removed from the game and a two-man crew of Jim Volpi (HP) and Ralph Willcott (1B) finished out the contest… Despite the loss, Kansas City is 10-3 in its last 13 games. All three losses during that time were decided by one run.

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