The Kansas City T-Bones (26-30) dropped the rubber match of a three-game series, 9-5, in 10 innings to the Joliet JackHammers (23-35) tonight in front of 5,830 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The JackHammers plated the first run of the game in the first inning when Kevin Rios hit a sacrifice fly off Ryan Knippschild (pictured).  The T-Bones scored twice off Rory Shortell in their half of the second with an RBI triple by Neb Brown and an RBI double by Jacob Blackwood to take a 2-1 lead.

Blackwood drove in Neb Brown with an RBI single in the fourth before a sacrifice fly by Aharon Eggleston made the score 4-1.  Shortell was replaced by Devin Anderson after surrendering four runs on eight hits in three and two-thirds innings of work.

Ryan Knippschild allowed just the one run in his seven innings of work, allowing just two baserunners after Rios’ sacrifice fly.  He finished with one run on four hits and five strikeouts in a no-decision.

Joliet used two walks and an error to load the bases off reliever Daniel Sattler in the eighth.  Justin James (3-6) entered for Sattler with one out and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Brad Correll to pull the JackHammers within two.  The next batter, Kyle Nichols, hooked a home run inside the left-field foul pole to plate three and give Joliet a 5-4 advantage.

Ryan Paul (2-3), who entered for Joliet with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, put two runners on with a hit batter and a walk to begin the ninth.  After two quick outs and a wild pitch that moved the runners up to second and third, Brown placed a bunt single down the third-base line to drive in the tying run from third and force extra innings.

James pitched a perfect ninth before surrendering two singles with one out in the tenth.  Payton Tweddale entered and walked Correll to load the bases before a two-run double by Nichols and a two-run single by Freddie Thon capped the scoring at 9-5.

Paul pitched two and one-third innings for Joliet, giving up one run on one hit in the win.  James took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits over two innings.  Tweddale was charged with two runs on two hits in his two-thirds frames.

The T-Bones travel to Winnipeg tomorrow to begin a six-game road trip, beginning with a three-game series against the Goldeyes that starts Tuesday.  First pitch is set for 7:00.  To catch all the action while the T-Bones are on the road, tune to KXTR 1660 AM or click the listen live link at www.tbonesbaseball.com