KANSAS CITY, KS. 8-25-2010 – The Kansas City T-Bones scored in only three different innings and had just nine base hits but still managed to reach double-digits in scoring and drop the Gary SouthShore RailCats 11-7 Wednesday night in the finale of a three-game series at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Kansas City won the last two games in the three-game series and took advantage of 10 walks issued by RailCats pitchers Wednesday to earn the win.  The T-Bones scored twice in the fourth and six times in the fifth inning despite combining for just two hits in those innings, and the RailCats never could overcome the early deficit in losing for the fourth time in five games.  Kansas City added three runs in the eighth for the final margin.

The game was scoreless into the bottom of the fourth inning when RailCats starter Andy Weeks – who had retired eight in a row to start the game – walked four straight T-Bones on just 17 pitches to force in the game’s first run.  Kansas City would make it 2-0 later in the inning on a fielder’s choice but get nothing more.

The RailCats offense finally kicked into gear in the top of the fifth against Reid Santos (5-5).  Mike Rohde singled to lead off the inning before Chris Carrara crushed his first RailCat home run to tie the game.  Carrara’s homer was just the second of his career, and the ‘Cats quickly took the lead when Adam Klein walked and scored on a Mike Massaro double.  The RailCats lead grew to 5-2 later in the inning when Randall Simon hit a mammoth two-run home run to right, his second longball of the series.

But RailCats walks would again allow Kansas City to take charge in the bottom of that same fifth inning. Weeks walked Jacob Blackwood with one out and he scored on a throwing error after a Ray Sadler infield single.  Weeks would walk Jim Fasano before leaving the game and James Baker (2-4) came in from the bullpen, promptly walking Dwayne White to load the bases with two outs.  Rico Washington was hit by Baker’s next pitch to force in a run, and Kansas City tied the game when Baker’s next pitch went to the backstop.  Again on the following pitch, Keith Hernandez finally got a strike and laid into a three-run home run to left-center to give Kansas City an 8-5 lead.

The RailCats had a glorious chance to get back into the game in the top of the eighth, loading the bases with no one out against newly signed Kansas City southpaw Mike Perisho, but Perisho would strike out two of the next three and the RailCats would get only one run across.

Weeks allowed five earned runs on 4.2 innings, walking a season-high six and allowing just three hits.  Zeb Engle would throw 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of Baker before the T-Bones scored three times off Chris Chavez in the eighth.  Santos allowed five earned runs on nine hits in 6.0 innings to earn his fifth win.

The RailCats out-hit Kansas City 13-9, getting three hits from Louis Ott and two hits apiece from Jeff Beachum, Massaro and Simon.  Carrara had three RBI including the fifth inning homer.  Hernandez and Washington each drove in three runs for the victorious T-Bones and Fasano matched a Northern League record with four walks.

The RailCats (47-42) will take advantage of their final off day of the regular season Thursday before starting a seven-game homestand Friday night at 7 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard against the Joliet JackHammers (46-43).  Right-hander Nolan Nicholson (5-4, 4.08 ERA) will get the start for the RailCats opposite Joliet southpaw Todd Privett (8-4, 4.11 ERA) and the game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Friday night is the RailCats Tin Lunchbox Giveaway for the first 1,000 kids, sponsored by Geminus Prevention Services.  It’s also a Fireworks Friday, sponsored by First Midwest Bank at the Post-Tribune with a great post-game show.  If that’s not enough, former Chicago White Sox slugger Dan Pasqua will also be at the game Friday night, signing autographs and greeting fans on behalf of the Bulls-Sox Training Academy.  Gates open at 6 p.m. and great seats are still available by calling 219.882.2255 or stopping by the U. S. Steel Yard Box Office anytime after 10 a.m. Thursday or Friday.

Notes: The RailCats reached double-digit hits in all seven of their games in Kansas City this year but went just 3-4 in those games … the T-Bones won the season series over the RailCats 10-4 … Simon went 7-for-12 with two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored in the three-game series … the third place RailCats remained a game ahead of fourth place Joliet despite the loss.  The ‘Cats are now 3.5 games behind second place Kansas City.