07/15/2003 11:19 AM - A bases loaded walk to Jack Jones in the bottom of the tenth inning scored pinch-runner Mark Teson with the winning run as the T-Bones defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs 5-4 Tuesday night.

Kansas City had a number of chances in the late innings to wrap up the game, but could not shut the door on Lincoln until extra innings. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Taber Maier his a soaring fly ball into left field. All of the T-Bones players leaned forward in the dugout only to see the potential game-winning home run fall into the glove of left fielder Ira Smith at the base of the wall.

Before Jones’ walk the tenth, Mark Teson had an opportunity to end the game one batter sooner. Rodney Clifton sent a groundball between third base and shortstop into left field. Smith bobbled the ball, giving Teson what seemed to be an easy walk into home to win the game. Teson stopped, however, and returned to third base. That’s when Alan Ocshner (1-2) threw ball number four to Jack Jones on a full count, giving the T-Bones sole possession of first place in the second half of the season.

The T-Bones scored their first four runs via the home run. Ray Brown sent a Cory Walters’ pitch into the lawn seating in right-center field to tie the game at two in the bottom of the sixth inning. Eddie Pearson sent his seventh home run of the season in virtually the same spot in the following inning. That homer would tie the game at four apiece.

Jon McDonald pitched effectively in his first start of the season for Kansas City. He allowed two unearned runs in the second after he threw the third out past Ray Brown at first base on a comebacker. He was also charged with two earned runs in the seventh when reliever Nate Sevier allowed a two-RBI single to Ira Smith.

All-Star closer D.J. Johnson (5-1) came on in the tenth and allowed two quick hits. He would get a pop-up and two strikeouts, however, to get out of the inning unscathed and earn his fifth victory of the season.

The series continues tomorrow with Tony Gomes of the T-Bones facing Steve Sawyer for the Saltdogs. The game will start at 7:05 p.m. The T-Bones will take the field in sole possession of first place for the first time this season.