07/20/2006 11:15 PM - KANSAS CITY – The T-Bones (26-29) scored five runs in the last two innings, breaking a seventh-inning tie and taking the first of four games against the Calgary Vipers (23-32) by an 8-3 count in front of 5,168 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The Vipers struck first, as the first three Calgary batters notched hits off of T-Bones starter Hank Woodman. Calgary’s Manubu Kuramochi led off the game with a single to shortstop, then scored on a single by Aaron McEachran. Nelson Castro scored later that inning when Drew Miller hit into a fielder’s choice. After the first half of the opening frame, the Vipers led 2-0.

The T-Bones responded in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on Calgary miscues to reclaim the lead by plating three runs in the frame. Craig Hurba led off the inning with a walk. Two batters later, Hurba and Darryl Lawhorn would score when Doug Dreher reached base on a throwing error by Viper pitcher Tom Lyons. Dreher advanced to second on a wild pitch, then scored when J.D. Foust grounded out to shortstop. After two complete innings, the T-Bones held a 3-2 lead.

Calgary fired right back in the third as Kuramochi walked, then advanced to second when an attempted pickoff throw by Woodman bounced over the first base wall and into the stands. A sacrifice bunt by Castro allowed Kuramochi to advance to third. The speedy Viper scored on a base hit to left field by McEachran, tying the game at three runs apiece in the middle of the third.

The game sat tied for the next three innings before the T-Bones took the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Lyons had retired sixteen straight before a one-out walk to Lawhorn. After a double and a walk loaded the bases, the T-Bones reclaimed the lead when Foust reached on an error, scoring Lawhorn from third and keeping the bases loaded. The hosts tacked on three more in the inning, and did it on just one hit. A bases-loaded walk by Greg Jacobs allowed Dreher to score from third. Chad Sosebee scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield, and Foust capped the scoring by taking advantage of a wild pitch to score from third. Kyle Nichols added a solo home run in the bottom half of the eighth for good measure, and boosted the T-Bones lead to 8-3.

After giving up three runs in the first three innings, T-Bones starter Hank Woodman (3-1) found his rhythm, allowing just three hits through the next three innings. Woodman struck out six while walking just two. Buddy Blair relieved Woodman with one out in the eighth, and T-Bones newcomer Lavon Lewis finished the game with a scoreless ninth.

It’s the same two teams Friday night in the second of a four-game set. T-Bones pitching coach Greg Bicknell (5-6, 3.65) will start for Kansas City, while the Calgary starter has yet to be determined. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m. at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.