08/07/2006 11:28 PM - JOLIET, Ill. – The T-Bones (35-37, 13-11) snatched a pair of wins from the Joliet JackHammers (27-43, 11-11) Monday night at Silver Cross Field. A five-run eighth inning gave the helped Kansas City down Joliet 10-9 in the first game, which was played as a continuation of last Wednesday’s suspended game, while a two-run sixth inning gave the T-Bones the runs they needed for a 3-1 nightcap win.

The T-Bones began the evening by finishing last Wednesday’s game, which was suspended when a storm system invaded CommunityAmerica Ballpark after the fourth inning. At the time of resumption, the T-Bones trailed the JackHammers 6-5 going into the top of the fifth. Joliet’s lead increased to 8-5 when Rob Stratton blasted a two-run long ball over the left field fence. The JackHammers then used a double and a single in the eighth to add another run, giving Joliet the 9-5 advantage going into the bottom of the eighth.

A four run deficit quickly turned into a one run lead for the T-Bones in the bottom of the eighth inning. Kansas City plated five runs on five hits and took advantage of a walk and a hit batsman to take a 10-9 lead going into the final frame. It all started when Zach Norman was hit by a pitch from Joliet closer Amad Stephens with the bases loaded, which allowed Eddie Pearson to score from third. Two batters later, Darryl Lawhorn smacked a double to left field scoring Craig Hurba, Doug Dreher, and Norman. One batter later, Lawhorn scored on a single to right field by Greg Jacobs to complete the scoring in the inning.

The T-Bones escaped a bases-loaded threat by Joliet in the top of the ninth to hang on for the 10-9 victory. Buddy Blair (4-7) picked up the win for Kansas City, while Joliet’s Amad Stephens (1-3) was hit with the loss. Jaime Jones picked up his first save of the season.

Twenty minutes later, the same two teams battled it out in the regularly-scheduled contest, which was shortened to seven innings to accompany the conclusion of the suspended game. Hot from action earlier in the evening, the T-Bones offense went straight to work in the opening frame. Jacobs put his team on the board early, using a solo home run over the right field fence to give the T-Bones a 1-0 first inning lead.

Joliet’s Luis Villarreal would hold the T-Bones at bay through the innings that followed, allowing just four hits through five innings. But Kansas City powered up the factory in the sixth, manufacturing two insurance runs on three singles and two walks to take a 3-0 lead. With two outs, Pearson stepped to the plate and threaded a needle with a base hit that found its way through several Joliet fielders, all of whom were shifted to right field. Robbie Knapp would take Pearson’s position on the bases as a pinch runner, and would score on an RBI single to left field by Lawhorn. After reaching base on a walk, Hurba scored when Dreher notched his second single of the game to give his squad the three run edge.

The JackHammers responded in the sixth, tagging T-Bones starter Greg Bicknell for two hits, and scoring a run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield to cut the Kansas City lead to 3-1. Joliet would threaten again in the seventh inning, loading the bases with two outs, but a fly ball to right field was caught by Jacobs, allowing the T-Bones to escape with a 3-1 win.

Bicknell (6-10) went the distance for the T-Bones, allowing just one run on six hits while walking two and notching six strikeouts for his 134th career win. JackHammer starter Luis Villarreal (4-5) was saddled with the loss.

The T-Bones will take on the JackHammers once again Tuesday night for game two of a four-game set. The first pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.