07/25/2003 11:27 AM - Walks and stolen bases were the story of the game as the Lincoln Saltdogs defeated the Kansas City T-Bones 6-4 Friday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Kansas City pitching surrendered a total of nine walks and hit two batsmen over the course of the evening. Coupled with Lincoln’s four stolen bases, the T-Bones’ defense had their hands full the entire night. The defense did manage to get Lincoln to strand fourteen runners, but the offense could not battle back.

Ray Brown put the T-Bones ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning when he hit the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for his sixth home run of the season. Eddie Pearson followed two innings later by hitting Lincoln starter Doug Johnston’s first pitch over the wall in right for his ninth homer of the season. That put the T-Bones up 2-1. Pearson went three for four on the evening, giving him fourteen hits in his last five games.

T-Bones starter Jon McDonald was chased from the game in the seventh inning when he gave up a lead-off walk to JuJu Foreman. Jason Davis (0-1) then came on in relief for the second straight night. After getting Ira Smith to ground into a fielder’s choice, Bryan Warner hit Davis’ first pitch over the wall in center to give Lincoln a 4-3 lead. It was Warner’s eleventh homer of the season. Lincoln would add two more runs, giving them a lead they would not relinquish.

Johnston (5-5) gave up five hits and three runs over seven innings of work. His offense came through in the top of the seventh inning when they put four runs on the board to give Lincoln a 6-3 lead. Mick Pageler came on in the ninth to earn his seventh save of the season.

Erik Grunwald will pitch tomorrow night for the T-Bones. He will be countered by Cory Walters for the Saltdogs. Grunwald earned his third victory of the season in his last outing July 17 versus Lincoln. With Fargo’s victory over Winnipeg in extra innings Friday night, the T-Bones look to regain sole possession of first place.