08/04/2004 9:53 AM - KANSAS CITY – Jonathan Krysa allowed three unearned runs in 6.1 innings to lead the T-Bones to a 9-3 win over visiting Joliet and into sole possession of first place in the South Division for the first time this year. For Kansas City (12-8, 32-36), it was the team’s seventh consecutive victory – a franchise high.

Cody Nowlin and Eddie Pearson each homered to pace the T-Bones, which have outscored their opponents 63-24 during the team’s winning streak. Nowlin’s solo shot in the fourth inning was the first run of the game and Pearson’s three-run blast in the sixth gave Kansas City a commanding 8-1 lead. The run support was plenty for Krysa, who allowed just two hits through the first five innings. In all, Krysa (6-6) struck out six and allowed five hits in the victory. Reliever David Viane pitched the final 2.2 innings of scoreless ball for the T-Bones.

The T-Bones scored two in the fourth, three in the fifth, and three more in the sixth to chase Joliet start Steve Hecker (4-7), who was charged with seven runs, six earned, in 5.1 innings. It was the first loss in five games for the JackHammers (11-8, 35-32), who fell to second place for the first time in six games.

Nowlin’s seventh home run of the season and a double by Phil Thompson highlighted a two-run fourth inning for the T-Bones. Kansas City made it 5-0 with three runs in the fifth. Chad Hill led off with a ground-rule double and came around to score when Mike Brown singled through the left side of the infield to make it 3-0. A wild pitch by Hecker with the bases loaded brought Brown home and Thompson plated the final run of the frame with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Joliet threatened to score early on but Krysa pitched his way out of trouble in the third, fourth, and sixth innings. In the third, the JackHammers placed runners on first and second with one out, but Krysa induced Jermaine Allensworth to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat. In the fourth, the first two Joliet hitters reached base, but Krysa recorded a couple of strikeouts and a ground out to escape the inning unscathed.

Krysa pitched out of a jam in the sixth as well with runners on first and second, a run already in, and no outs. He retired Bubba Smith on a pop out to second base and then induced Corey Paul to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play to stymie the rally. Kansas City will continue its four-game series with Joliet Thursday night beginning at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 7:05.

Game Notes: Rick Prieto doubled down the left-field line to lead off the third inning and extended his hitting streak to 15 games, the longest such streak by any T-Bones player in the two-year history of the Kansas City franchise. Sioux City’s Casey Baker owns the Northern League’s longest hitting streak of the season at 18 games… The T-Bones’ victory Wednesday night was just their third in 12 games against Joliet.

To view box score, CLICK HERE.