The Kansas City T-Bones (21-16) scored four times in the top of the first inning but eventually fell, 7-5, to the Joliet JackHammers (17-18) in the final game of a four-game series at Silver Cross Field Sunday afternoon.

The first three T-Bones batters each singled against Joliet starter Todd Privett (3-2), with Rico Washington driving in the first run of the contest.  Ray Sadler (pictured) followed with a three-run home run to give Kansas City a quick 4-0 lead.  Joliet responded immediately, scoring three times against Ryan Knippschild (5-3) in the bottom of the inning to pull within one.  Freddie Thon drove in the first run with a single before Roberto Mena plated the final two with a basehit to left.

The JackHammers took a 5-4 lead in the third on a two-run home run by Rafael Mendez.  After Jimmy Mojica tied the game at five with a home run in the top of the fourth, Chris Colton went deep in the bottom of the inning as Joliet regained the lead, 6-5.

Privett left the contest with one out in the sixth having allowed five runs on seven hits in the victory.

Following Colton’s leadoff blast in the fourth, Knippschild faced just one over the minimum over the next four innings before a walk, single, and an error loaded the bases for Joliet to begin the eighth.  Drew Graham entered and surrendered an RBI single to Joe Billick to cap the scoring at 7-5.

Knippschild was charged with seven runs on eight hits in seven-plus innings in the loss.  Griffin Bailey threw a scoreless ninth to earn his second save of the season.

Andrew Cruse (4-2, 1.20) brings his league-best ERA into Schaumburg against Brett Harker (1-4, 4.78) and the Flyers tomorrow night in game one of a four-game series at Alexian Field.  First pitch is set for 7:00.  Catch all the action through streaming webcast at www.tbonesbaseball.com or on the radio at KXTR 1660 AM.