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Rockford Forces Rubber Match with 5-4 Win

07/24/2010 9:22 PM -

Jake Eigsti's seventh-inning sacrifice fly propelled the Rockford RiverHawks (26-31) to a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City T-Bones (37-20) in front of 8,142 fans Saturday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The RiverHawks jumped on T-Bones starter Andrew Cruse (8-3) in the second inning with a two-run home run by Patrick O’Sullivan. Kansas City answered in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single by Eladio Rodriguez off Kyle Wright (5-2) for a 2-1 score.

Rockford extended the lead to 4-1 in the third with an RBI triple by Jason James and an RBI single by Travis Scott. The T-Bones responded in the bottom of the inning, plating three runs on a two-RBI double by Ray Sadler and an RBI single by Jim Fasano.

The game remained tied at four until the seventh when Evan McArthur singled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third base and eventually scored on Eigsti's sacrifice fly, sealing the RiverHawks victory.

Cruse, who snapped a personal six-game win streak with his first loss since June 13, allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out six. Casey Hodges pitched two scoreless innings to finish the game for Kansas City, allowing one hit.

Wright left after seven and one-thirds, giving up four runs, three earned, on eight hits while striking out six in the win. Emary Frederick got the final four outs for Rockford to earn his first save of the year. The T-Bones pushed the tying run to third in the ninth, but fell short.

Kansas City wraps up the three-game series and nine-game homestand Sunday night, sending left-hander Reid Santos (3-3, 5.14) to the mound opposite right-hander Mike Wood (1-3, 3.89) and the RiverHawks. First pitch is set for 5:05. Catch all the action online at www.tbonesbaseball.com or on the radio at KXTR 1660 AM.