GARY | Brian Forystek took a week off and it made up for a season of pain.

Forystek, who started and earned his second win for the RailCats on Sunday, said he was pitching pain-free for the first time this season.

The nagging arm pain that began in spring training and continued when the RailCats picked him up on July 12 was but a memory after he worked his way out of the first inning and his team backed him up with four first-inning runs en route to an 8-2 win over the Kansas City T-Bones.

"It's a lot different when you can actually have a fastball down the line," Forystek said. "I've tried to pitch through it all year. It was taking its toll. Now it's working its way out, and I think I should be able to pitch out the season just like I pitched today."

The 29-year-old was placed on the disabled list July 31 and removed Friday, in time for 2/3 of an inning of relief. That was enough of a warmup to start Sunday, when he threw six innings, 90 pitches and struck out five.

"If he can be the guy that we acquired with a purpose to bring him here and make a difference, when we talk about difference-makers, he's got the pitch ability to be a difference-maker," RailCats manager Greg Tagert said.

The offense backed up its pitcher with the four-run first, and two runs in each the fifth and sixth.

Two of the four runs that gave the 'Cats a 4-0 lead came courtesy of three T-Bones errors in the inning. Left fielder Eric Scriven committed two on the same play, dropping a fly ball off the bat of Cristian Guerrero before over throwing a throw to second base. That play scored Tanner Townsend. Guerrero scored as Steve Haake reached base on a dropped catch when the first baseman tossed the ball to pitcher Anthony Boughner.

"The way we've been swinging the bats is unbelievable," Forystek said. "We've been putting up what 7, 8 runs every game, so it's awesome, real comfortable pitching."

Designated hitter Mike Reese scored three of the RailCats' runs and Eric McNamee, who reopened a finger wound in the seventh inning, scored twice. The RailCats are averaging 6.3 runs per game in August.

They've won 14 of their past 16 games, all since dropping to fifth in the Northern League standings. On Sunday, the 'Cats were comfortably in second place, five games behind Fargo-Moorhead and two games ahead of third-place Winnipeg.