06/22/2006 2:48 PM - KANSAS CITY – Greg Bicknell pitched eight scoreless innings and combined with Byron Embry on a five-hit shutout as the T-Bones (15-18) won their third straight game Thursday afternoon, downing the Joliet JackHammers (11-21) in a 3-0 decision in front of 6,025 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Bicknell wasted no time getting to work. The T-Bones veteran fanned two of the game’s first three batters, then proceded to pitch himself out of a potentially dangerous situation in the second when Joliet threatened to score with a man on third. He retired Kyle Nichols on a ground out before J.D. Foust flied to centerfield to end the inning. The JackHammers threatened just once more, advancing a man to third in the fifth, but Bicknell retired two of the last three batters in the inning and kept his shutout alive.

Bicknell (3-4) allowed five hits, recorded two strikeouts and walked just one in his eight innings of work. Embry relieved Bicknell in the ninth and worked quickly, sending the three batters he faced packing on strikeouts, and earning his seventh save of the season.

The T-Bones scored their first run in the third inning when a Charles Peterson single to left field allowed Jesse Acosta to score from third. Greg Jacobs single-handedly added another run in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run over the left field fence, and Acosta scored again an inning later when Brandon Jones hit a long RBI single to left field, allowing Acosta to score from second base.

The T-Bones are in action once again Friday night as they begin a three-game series with the Gary SouthShore RailCats. Kansas City’s Buddy Blair (1-5, 5.30) will face off against Gary Southpaw Josh Habel (1-4, 8.17). The first pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. at CommuntyAmerica Ballpark.

JOL 0 5 1
KCT 3 10 0

W: Bicknell (3-4), L-Morenko (3-4), S-Embry (7)
Time: 2:25, Attendance: 6025

Game Notes: The start of the game was delayed 46 minutes by rain. With his 1-4 performance, Pat Magness has now hit in 11 of his 12 games as a T-Bone. Magness has also reached base safely in all 12 games. Charles Peterson has now hit safely in 14-straight games at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Doug Dreher went 0-for-3, ending his 12-game hit streak. Greg Bicknell won his second-straight start and pitched at least seven complete innings for his third straight start.

– Kansas City T-Bones –