FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (August 21, 2017)
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]
Article Written by Austin Anderson, Broadcast & Media Relations Assistant

LINCOLN, NEB. – The Gary SouthShore RailCats (48-38) grabbed an early three-run lead but were unable to hold on as the Lincoln Saltdogs (54-30) scored eight fifth-inning runs to defeat the RailCats by a score of 8-5 on Monday in a special eclipse matinée. Gary currently sits tied atop the wild card standings as of the conclusion of Monday’s game.

The RailCats scored first for the second consecutive game by scoring three second-inning runs. Frank Martinez began the inning with a walk and scored soon after as Wilfredo Gimenez drove in Martinez with a double to get the RailCats the early advantage. Ryan Fitzgerald followed with a single that advanced Gimenez to third and then Cole Fabio drove in Gimenez with an RBI single that allowed Fitzgerald to advance to third and extend the RailCats lead to two. Chase Harris hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Fitzgerald to make the score 3-0.

The SaltDogs offense came alive in the fifth. Brent Dean plated Juan Martinez with an RBI single to cut the RailCats lead to two. Lincoln took its first lead of the day when Joe Robbins hit a three-run home run to make the score 4-3. Randolph Oduber (two-run home run) and Nathaniel Maggio (solo home run) hit back-to-back long balls to give Lincoln a four-run advantage. The SaltDogs scored the final run of the inning when Christian Ibarra drove in Brandon Jacobs with a double to make the score 8-3.

The score would stay the same until the ninth. An Alex Crosby single and walks from Colin Willis and Cam Newell loaded the bases with no one out. Andy DeJesus singled in both Crosby and Willis to pull the RailCats within three.

Ayrton Costa (2-3) lost his second consecutive start after allowing seven earned runs on nine hits, walked two, and struck out one in 4.1 innings of work. Costa did not surrender a run and only allowed three hits through the first four innings of the ballgame.

Lincoln’s Dimitri Kourtis (1-1) did not allow a run on five hits, he walked one and struck out one in four innings of relief to earn the victory. Michael Wagner (19) did not allow a run in a full inning of work to earn the save.  

Gary continues their four-game road series against Lincoln on Tuesday night at 6:45 p.m. Southpaw Jeff McKenzie (3-3, 3.76) opposes the reigning American Association pitcher of the month Derek Gordon (9-2, 2.89).

Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Friday, August 25th, for a three-game series vs. Kansas City at 7:10 p.m. Friday’s game is Stand Up to Cancer Night, features a Hat Giveaway and is another Fireworks Friday. The first 1,000 fans receive a hat, courtesy of Methodist Hospitals, while Fireworks and Stand Up to Cancer Night are presented by Fifth Third Bank.

Jared Shlensky and Austin Anderson bring you all 100 RailCats games this season on WEFM (95.9 FM) 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.