Fielders break streak; defeat T-Bones in 7-4 in rain shortened game

ZION, Ill. - The Lake County Fielders (39-57) snapped the Kansas City T-Bones (56-39) season-high eight game win streak with a 7-4 victory in a rain shortened game on Thursday night. The game was called after six innings due to inclement weather. 

Amos Ramon got the Fielders off to a good start, blasting his third grand slam of the year in the bottom of the first to give Lake County an early 4-0 lead. Kyle Higgins doubled, Josh Short was hit by a pitch and Juan Valdes walked to load the bases for Ramon who delivered with his eighth home run of the year. 

Fielders starter Ryan Bicondoa was cruising through the first three innings, retiring eight out of nine T-Bones with seven strike outs before giving up a lead off triple to Jacob Blackwood in the top of the fourth. Blackwood came around on a Gabriel Martinez groundout and Jim Fasano roped a two-run homer to right field to bring Kansas City within one. 

The T-Bones tied it up at four in the fifth after Bryan Joynt led off with a double and advanced on a Bicondoa wild pitch. Jimmy Mojica delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to plate Joynt and the tying run.

Lake County regained the lead in the fifth when Juan Valdes ripped a three run homer to right field off T-Bones starter Cody McAllister. McAllister had retired nine consecutive Fielders, striking out four before issuing a walk to Higgins and a single to Short before Valdes came up with his fourth home run of the year to chase McAllister from the game. 

McAllister went four and one thirds innings, surrendering seven runs on six hits while striking out five and walking three. 

Bicondoa picked up his sixth complete game of the season and his third win of the year. He threw six innings giving up four runs on six hits while striking out nine. 

The Fielders begin their last homestand of their 2010 inaugural season tonight as they face off against the Rockford RiverHawks. First pitch slated for 7:00pm.