8th inning homer strikes again, T-Bones take the 7-1 Win
July 29, 2005 - Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release
Kansas City, KS- Another night, another close game between the T-Bones and JackHammers. Kansas City used three solo home runs in the 8th inning the night before to ice a 5-0 opening night win. On Friday, those same T-Bones had a 2-1 advantage entering the 8th. Chad Sosebee's wall scraping grand slam busted opens the game and lead to the misleading final score of 7-1.
The win guarantees the T-Bones (7-8, 34-27) at worst a split of this four game series. The loss meanwhile for Joliet (2-12, 25-37) sends them spiraling to their season high eighth straight loss.
Kansas City's Jonathan Krysa threw 145 pitches in the complete game victory, improving his record to 5-8. Krysa allowed seven hits, all singles to the JackHammers, while striking out eight and walking three. He came close to allowing another run in the 9th inning, but Matt McCay was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the frame.
For the JackHammers, it was another night of a wasted pitching performance. In the opening game, Ben Moore was great, allowing just two runs in six innings. On Friday, Nathan Kent (2-6) got hit with the loss, despite one of his best outings this season. Nathan went seven innings, allowing nine hits and just two runs while striking out five.
Joliet grabbed their first lead of the series, striking for a run in the second inning. Jim Kavourias led off the frame with a walk, and went to third on the sacrifice bunt by Matt McCay. McCay reached thanks to a little help for the sun, which blinded first baseman Ray Brown and prevented him from receiving the throw. Matt Howe's sacrifice fly brought home Kavourias, to give Joliet the early 1-0 lead.
Kansas City waited until the bottom of the fifth to make their move, getting the inning started with an infield single. After a strikeout, Chad Sosebee tripled to deep left center, a triple which tied the game at a run apiece. Leadoff hitter Rick Prieto's fly ball to center would then score Sosebee to give Kansas City their first lead of the game 2-1 after five innings.
The fateful ninth inning began with JackHammer reliever Matt Petrusek on the hill. On his first pitch of the inning, Greg Jacobs promptly tripled down the first base line, a ball that was fair by millimeters. Ray Brown drove home Jacobs with a single to increase the lead to 3-1. After David Segui walked on a 3-2 count, Mike Brown layed down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third, with just one out. Brandon Jones was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Catcher Sean Flynn struck out for his third time of the night, and it appeared Joliet would get out of the inning with minimal damage. On the first pitch of the at-bat however, the number nine batting Chad Sosebee (who finished 3-3 with 5 RBI) swatted a curveball down the left field line, just clearing the extremely short wall in left, 300 feet away for a game changing grand slam.
Kansas City now leads the season series 5-4 while Joliet holds a 18-13 all time advantage.
Joliet's Sam Flamont had a 2-3 night to lead the âHammers while Sosebee was joined by Mike Brown with a 3-3 evening.
Game three of the series will be on Saturday with the JackHammers still unsure as to who will be their starting pitcher. Kansas City will go with their ace and pitching coach, right hander Greg Bicknell. Bicknell is 11-2 on the season with a stellar 2.67 ERA. The JackHammers are in the midst of their longest road trip of the year, an eleven game streak that saw the team visit Sioux Falls, with a stop in Kansas City before finishing the trip at Schaumburg.
Northern League Stories from July 29, 2005
- Saltdogs beat Canaries - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Krysa Shines, Sosebee Slams in 7-1 Win - Kansas City Monarchs
- Bailie to 8-0 in road win - Schaumburg Flyers
- 8th inning homer strikes again, T-Bones take the 7-1 Win - Joliet JackHammers
- RailCats Lose to Schaumburg 7-2 - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Viane Masterful in 5-0 Blanking of Joliet - Kansas City Monarchs
- T-Bones take opener 5-0 - Joliet JackHammers
- Bye-Bye Balbuena; Righthander Signs with Rockies - Kansas City Monarchs
- RailCats Fall Late at St. Paul - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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