07/30/2005 11:18 PM - Click here to view the box score.

After eight consecutive losses, things finally went right for the Joliet JackHammers as they beat the T-Bones 9-3 Saturday night in front of 7,534 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. On paper, a ninth straight defeat seemed likely as Joliet’s Damien Myers (W, 2-7) was facing T-Bones all-star and eleven-game winner Greg Bicknell (L, 11-3). But despite 8 1/3 solid innings from the league leader in wins, Joliet jumped on the T-Bones bullpen in winning for the first time since July 17.

Trailing just 4-3, Bicknell exited the ballgame after going 8 1/3 innings striking out 7 and throwing 129 pitches. Making his T-Bones debut, rookie Cardoza Tucker relieved Bicknell and promptly surrendered four earned runs including a Jayson Drobiak three-run shot pulling the JackHammers ahead for good. Though he did not record an out in the pressure situation, Tucker showed signs of things to come with a fastball that topped out at 93 mph.

Prior to the JackHammers’ five-run ninth, the T-Bones kept things interesting in their attempt to win their third straight. In the fourth inning, Chad Sosebee showed that he’s still swinging a hot bat as he recorded his second triple in as many nights and drove in two on the night. His second three base hit of the season tied the score 3-3 and gave the T-Bones the momentum heading into the latter innings with their ace on the mound.

However, Joliet’s Matt Howe broke the tie in the fifth with his RBI double off the left field wall. Myers then switched into cruise control, going 6 2/3 innings allowing three runs on just five hits. Myers handed the game to the bullpen, which responded with poise in their effort to end the losing streak. Kyle Zaleski and Amad Stephens combined for 2 ½ innings of hitless ball in shutting down the T-Bones and quieting the third largest crowd in club history.

The final game of the four game series will be played tomorrow at 5:05 with Jon McDonald taking the hill for the T-Bones and Allen Levrault starting for the JackHammers.

Notes: Four of the last nine crowds at CommunityAmerica Ballpark have exceeded 7,000… On his 33rd birthday, Ray Brown’s eight-game hitting streak ended… Rafael Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to six games with his seventh inning single…