Press Releases

Goodman’s three-hit game leads RailCats to rubber game win

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (July 2, 2017)
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Three hits from Kris Goodman and two shutout innings from Jake Matthys and Drasen Johnson in relief led the Gary SouthShore RailCats to a 5-4 win over the St. Paul Saints on Sunday evening at CHS Field in front of 10,143 fans. The win gave Gary their fourth consecutive series and was the RailCats first series victory against St. Paul since July 6, 2014.

Gary (24-19) took an early 1-0 lead on the first of four total homers hit on the night. With two outs in the top of the first, Colin Willis pulled his team-high-tying fifth long ball of the year over the right field wall.

Goodman doubled Gary’s lead with an opposite field homer over the wall in right to leadoff the top of the second. The homer for Goodman was his first as a RailCat and his first since going deep with the GCL Marlins on June 25, 2015.

St. Paul (27-15) tied the game at 2-2 on Tony Thomas’ two-run home run. Gallas led off the inning with a single before Thomas blasted his team-leading 11th home run over the right field wall.

The RailCats regained the lead with a two-out run in the top of the third. Reggie Wilson singled to center with one out to start the frame. Wilson then stole second before Frank Martinez brought him home with an RBI double down the right field. The RBI was Martinez’s team-leading 32nd of the year and extended his season-high-tying hitting streak to 12.

St. Paul tied the game up again with a run in the fifth. Tanner Vavra reached on a fielder’s choice before Nate Hanson blooped a single down the right field, however, a throwing error from Wilson in right allowed Vavra to score the tying run.

Gary went back in front with another run in the sixth. Goodman reached on an error to begin the inning before James Alfonso flipped a double into right-center, giving the RailCats runners on second and third. Ryan Fitzgerald then made it 4-3 with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Goodman.

Anthony Gallas evened the game at 3-3 with a home run to leadoff the bottom of the sixth. The homer was Gallas’ second hit of the game and the final of four combined home runs on the night.

The RailCats took the lead for good with a run in the top eighth. Martinez led off the inning with a single to center. Goodman followed with a single down the right field line, however, Danny Oh’s throw from right skipped past Hanson at third, allowing Martinez to score the go-ahead run.

Alex Gunn (3-3) allowed four runs (three earned) over seven innings in the win. The southpaw yielded eight hits and a walk while striking out five.

Matthys (2) tossed a scoreless bottom of the eighth in a hold. Matthys walked the leadoff batter and then retired the next three in his third professional appearance.

Johnson (4) recorded his second save in as many days with a scoreless ninth inning. Johnson allowed a two-out hit and recorded three groundouts in his third straight scoreless outing since being activated from the disabled list.

Vinny Nittoli (1-1) was charged with the loss in relief. Nittoli allowed an unearned run on two hits and a walk in 1.2 innings.

Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Monday for the start of a seven-game homestand. Monday’s game vs. Fargo-Moorhead is at 7:10 p.m. and is another MetroPCS Monday. The RailCats have yet to announce their starter for the series opener while Fargo-Moorhead sends All-Star southpaw Tyler Alexander (1-4, 2.52) to the hill.

Monday’s series opener against the RedHawks is also the inaugural Fourth of Juluau Pig Roast, presented by Berey Bros., and features Fireworks and Barefoot Hawaiian Fire Dancers.   

Jared Shlensky and Austin Anderson bring you all 100 RailCats games this season on WEFM (95.9FM) and online at railcatsbaseball.com. Fans can purchase tickets for RailCats home games by calling (219) 882-BALL or online at railcatsbaseball.com. The RailCats box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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