All-star hurler Luis Villarreal (2-2) threw seven shutout innings for the Kansas City T-Bones (19-20) tonight as they blanked the Joliet JackHammers (15-27), 4-0, at Silver Cross Field.

Villarreal allowed just six hits in the victory while striking out seven.  The JackHammers made the left-hander work in the second inning, loading the bases on two hits and a walk before Villarreal struck out Gary Harris to end the threat.  Joliet put two more runners on with one out in the third, but a strikeout and flyout capped off another scoreless frame.

After facing the minimum over the next three innings thanks to a caught stealing and double play, Villarreal saw one more JackHammers’ runner reach third with two outs in the seventh before inducing a groundout from Harris to end his night.

Kansas City scored the decisive run in the second inning when Neb Brown collected a two-out solo home run off Ryan Gehring (2-3) for a 1-0 lead.  They plated their second run on an RBI double by Jim Fasano in the sixth, scoring Damian Rolls who reached on a throwing error to begin the inning.

Gehring left after six having surrendered two runs, one earned, on eight hits in the loss.

Kansas City scored their final two runs in the eighth on RBI singles by Ryan Fox and Mark Minicozzi.

Daniel Sattler relieved Villarreal in the eighth and surrendered three walks, two with two outs, to load the bases for Freddy Thon.  Thon grounded out to end the threat.

Weston Curles threw a scoreless ninth to finish the game for Kansas City.

The T-Bones go for their fifth straight win tomorrow night, sending Justin James (3-4, 6.40) to face Jason Richardson (1-5, 4.41) and Joliet.  First pitch is set for 6:05.