The Gary SouthShore RailCats (14-16) used a five-run fifth inning to hand the Kansas City T-Bones (12-15) their fifth straight loss tonight, 5-3, at U.S. Steel Yard.

The T-Bones scored first in the contest, capitalizing on two errors to push two unearned runs across against Tom Thornton (4-3).  Greg Jacobs picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly for the first run, plating Eric Scriven who singled to begin the inning.  The next batter, Brad Correll, reached safely when a two-out pop fly dropped between Gary’s first and second basemen, allowing Aharon Eggleston to score for a 2-0 Kansas City advantage.  Eggleston reached earlier on a fielding error by the third baseman.

Justin James (pictured, 2-3) cruised through the first four innings for Kansas City before the RailCats touched the right-hander for five runs on five hits in the decisive fifth inning.  After a single and a double to start the frame, Brett Wallace plated the first run with an RBI groundout.  The next batter, Jeff Beachum, doubled home the second run to tie the game at two.  After a walk and a strikeout, Jay Pecci used his 999th career hit to score two more runs.  He would score on a single by Steve Haake to cap off the frame and give Gary a 5-2 lead.

Craig Hurba started the sixth with a solo home run, pushing the final total to 5-3.

James left after six and two-thirds innings having allowed five runs on eight hits in the loss.  He struck out seven in a 120-pitch outing.  Thornton walked the next batter following Hurba’s home run and left after five-plus innings having allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits in the victory.

Former T-Bone Andy Shipman threw a scoreless ninth to earn his third save of the season.

Pecci collected his 1,000th career hit, an infield single, with two outs in the seventh to chase James from the contest.  Weston Curles induced a flyout from the only batter he faced to end the inning before giving way to Nate Cotton, who threw a scoreless eighth to finish the game for Kansas City.

The two teams face off again tomorrow night as Ryan Knippschild (0-1, 3.41) takes the hill for the T-Bones against Tony Cogan (2-3, 4.14) for Gary.  First pitch is set for 7:00.