FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (July 15, 2017)
Contact: Jared Shlensky
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Box Score

GARY, Ind. — Seven innings of three-run ball from southpaw Alex Gunn and two hit nights from outfielders Cameron Newell and Tyler Sullivan led the Gary SouthShore RailCats to a 5-4 win over the Salina Stockade on Star Wars Night at U.S. Steel Yard. Gary has now seven of their last eight series and improved to 4-1 in the second half of the season with Saturday’s win.

Gunn (5-4) recorded his second consecutive win and has now gone 6+ innings in a season-best six consecutive starts. The 25-year-old struck out four, didn’t walk anyone and allowed just seven hits.
 
Carlos Diaz (4) struck out the side in the hold while Jorge De Leon (6) picked up his team-high-tying sixth save in the top of the ninth. De Leon yielded one run on two hits and struck out one in one inning of relief.

Josh Hodges (1-2) was tagged with the loss. The right-hander went a season-high seven innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on 10 hits, three walks and five strikeouts.

Gary (31-24) jumped in front with a pair of runs in the second. Wilfredo Gimenez led off the frame with a single through the left side before Andy De Jesus brought Gimenez around to score all the way from first with an RBI triple into the left-center alley. Ryan Fitzgerald made it 2-0 with an RBI groundout to second, scoring De Jesus from third.

Salina (6-48) cut the Gary lead to 2-1 with a two-out run in the top of the third. Jonathan Moroney led off the inning with a single back through the middle before Aaron Stubblefield moved Moroney up to second with a groundout to the left side. Two batters later, Troy Pairs brought home Moroney with an RBI triple to the right-center wall.

The RailCats regained their two-run lead with a run in the bottom of the third. Newell extended his personal-best hitting streak to nine with a single through the right side to begin the frame. Back-to-back singles from Sullivan and Reggie Wilson loaded the bases before Randy Santiesteban scored Newell with an RBI fielder’s choice.

The Stockade trimmed the Gary lead down to one again on a leadoff home run from Jimmy Heck in the fourth. The home run was Heck’s first in the American Association and his 13th RBI of the year.

Gary took their biggest lead of the night at 5-2 with a pair of two-out runs in the sixth. Kris Goodman brought home the first run of the frame with an RBI single to center before stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error from the catcher. Newell delivered an RBI double to left-center for the RailCats final run of the night.

Salina made it 5-3 with a run in the seventh. Cody Coffman led off the inning with a double to right-center before Moroney moved him to third with a single to right. Stubblefield cut the RailCats lead back to two with an RBI fielder’s choice, scoring Coffman from third.

Salina added one more in the ninth to make things interesting. Jordan Caillouet doubled with two outs before Moroney brought him in with an RBI double. With the tying run at second, De Leon got pinch-hitter Roche Woodard to flyout to right to end the game.

Gary concludes their three-game series against Salina on Sunday afternoon at 2:10 p.m. RailCats rookie right-hander Marshall Pautsch (0-0, 2.77) opposes southpaw Brian Smith (1-7, 6.88) in the series finale.

Sunday’s game features a team photo giveaway and a pre-game catch session on the field. The first 1,000 fans through the gates receive a free team photo and remember to bring a ball and glove to the Steel Yard for your chance to play catch on the field before the game.

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.