07/25/2005 10:52 PM - Click here to view the box score.

Pitching on only three days' rest, T-Bones ace Greg Bicknell (W, 11-2) pitched eight strong innings in picking up his league-leading eleventh victory of the season, and guided the T-Bones to 8-3 rout over the Lincoln Saltdogs Monday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Rafael Rodriguez led the offensive charge for the T-Bones, coming a homer short of the cycle on the evening. Trailing 1-0 and with the bases loaded in the fourth, Rodriguez broke the game open with his bases clearing triple and helped the T-Bones plate four in the inning giving them their outright lead. The triple followed a first inning single and third inning double. Rodriguez was in line for the natural cycle and first cycle since Rick Prieto accomplished the feat in 2003, but fell short grounding out in his next two at bats.

Greg Bicknell threw 115 pitches in his eight innings of work. The veteran allowed seven hits and three runs while fanning four. Southpaw Michael Kesten (L, 5-2) got the loss for the Saltdogs allowing ten hits and eight runs, four of which were earned.

Aiding Rodriguez in the offensive attack for the T-Bones was Rick Prieto with his three hits and two batted in and Matt Ceriani’s two-run double in the seventh. In the sixth, third baseman Brandon Jones connected for his eighth home run. His solo shot was his first home run since July 2.

Lincoln’s Dan Underwood, Bryan Warner and Josh Patton all had RBI’s in the losing effort. Patton’s RBI came via the long ball, his ninth of the season, and Warner’s run batted in added to his league leading 69 RBI.

T-Bones reliever Mike Shoaf made his second appearance of the season relieving Bicknell and pitched a scoreless ninth.

The teams continue the series with tomorrow’s 7:05 p.m. contest. Joe Goodmann will take the hill for the T-Bones and Lincoln’s starter is yet to be determined

Notes: The T-Bones combined to hit five double on the night… David Segui ended his five-game hitting streak going 0-3… Lincoln’s Cory Harris has now reached base safely in 51 consecutive games…