The Kansas City T-Bones (32-35) scored six runs on three hits and two Phil Hawke errors in the top of the third inning to take a lead they would not relinquish in an 8-6 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs (31-36) in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday night.

Jimmy Mojica opened the contest with a solo home run off Vince Bongiovanni’s (1-1) sixth pitch to give Kansas City an early 1-0 lead. The Saltdogs answered immediately when Blake Gailen was hit by the first pitch from Devin Anderson (6-6) and later scored on a single by Curt Smith to tie the game at one.

Kansas City opened the decisive inning with a walk and a single before Hawke’s first error allowed Keanon Simon to reach and loaded the bases for Rico Washington. Washington and Ray Sadler followed with RBI singles before a sacrifice fly from Jim Fasano made the score 4-1. After a walk to Kala Ka’aihue filled the bases again, Aharon Eggleston squeezed a ball down the line past Hawke that sent the runners home and left Eggleston standing on third. Hawke was charged with his second error of the inning and the T-Bones gained a 7-1 advantage.
 
Bongiovanni added a perfect fourth before leaving the contest. The right-hander was charged with seven runs, three earned, on four hits in the loss.

Lincoln pulled within four in the sixth with a three-run frame, scoring the first two on a triple by Vance Albitz. A sacrifice fly by Gailen followed to cap the inning.

Anderson allowed four runs on 12 hits over six innings for the victory.

Albitz opened the eighth with a triple off Drew Graham and scored on another sacrifice fly by Gailen to make the score 8-5. Lincoln opened the ninth with consecutive singles against Kyle Dahman and eventually pulled within two on an RBI groundout by Joseph Ramos. Dahman then struck out Albitz to end the game and secure his second save of the season.

Mojica’s home run snapped a personal hitless streak of 18 at bats, his longest of the season. Ray Sadler finished two-for-four with a home run and two runs driven in. He is now tied with Lee Cruz for the league lead at 76 RBI.

Kansas City now heads to St. Paul, MN for a three-game series against the Saints (39-28) that opens on Monday night. The T-Bones will send Trent Lare (1-2, 7.54) to the mound opposite Alberto Rolon (6-2, 4.32) and St. Paul in game one. First pitch is set for 7:05. To catch all the action while the team is on the road listen live on KUDL Radio Bach 1660 AM or online at www.tbonesbaseball.com.