08/31/2006 11:05 PM - JOLIET, Ill. - The Joliet JackHammers (40-53, 24-21) edged the Kansas City T-Bones (45-47, 23-21) by a 4-3 score to take the finale of the two clubs’ three-game series Thursday evening at Silver Cross Field. With the win, the JackHammers reclaimed a half-game lead in the East Division standings heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

The JackHammers once again capitalized on a solid effort from their starter and some clutch relief work down the stretch to pick up their second win in the critical three-game set. Starter Kevin Cheppenko (6-5) struggled early, allowing a two-out, two-run single by J.D. Foust in the first inning. But the right-hander settled into a groove and held the T-Bones in check throughout his 6 1/3 innings, leaving with a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh.

Joliet also benefited from some timely hitting, as the home club scored each of its four runs with two men out. Seth Pietsch drove home the JackHammers’ first run of the contest in the second with a double to right-field- the first of his three hits on the night. The following inning, Chad Ehrnsberger delivered a two-run double to right-center off T-Bones starter Greg Bicknell (7-13) to give Joliet a 3-2 advantage.

The JackHammers added what would prove to be the decisive run in their half of the sixth inning when Pietsch started a two-out rally with an infield single. Back-to-back singles from Greg Stevens and Mike Goss brought Pietsch home and Joliet held a 4-2 lead.

Kansas City threatened to even the score in the eighth, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk with nobody out. But Tommy Boss coaxed a 6-3 double-play- the T-Bones’ fourth of the night- from Foust before the Northern League’s top closer, Amad Stephens, retired Chad Sosebee on a fly ball to left field to strand the tying run at third base.

Stephens yielded a two-out walk to Greg Jacobs in the top of the ninth, but got Robbie Knapp to fly-out to wrap up the win and his NL-best 21st save of the year.

The T-Bones will kick off their final regular season series of the year Friday with a double-header at U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, Ind. Kansas City will send RHP Larry Robles (5-5, 3.64) and RHP Lavon Lewis (0-0, 4.80) to the mound, while Gary will counter with RHP Ryan Miller (1-1, 2.60) and RHP Steve Edsall (3-2, 4.28). Friday’s action will be an internet-only broadcast on tbonesbaseball.com, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

Game Notes: With Thursday’s loss, Greg Bicknell established a new NL record for losses in a single season, surpassing the previous record he shared with fellow T-Bone Jonathan Krysa and Gary’s Jason Shelley, who both dropped 12 games last season.