FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (August 31, 2017)
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]
Article written by Austin Anderson, Broadcast & Media Relations Asst.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. —  The Gary SouthShore RailCats (54-43) bounced back after blowing a three-run ninth inning lead to defeat the Sioux Falls Canaries (43-53) by a score of 6-5. The RailCats have now won two consecutive games, remain a game behind the wild card lead, and control their own destiny in the Central Division race as they trail their next opponent Lincoln by 3.5 games.

Reggie Wilson’s RBI single came with one out in the top half of the 10^th inning after Chase Harris reached on a leadoff single and moved over to second on Alex Crosby’s sacrifice bunt to third. Wilson’s hit was his fifth of the evening in six at-bats and was his only RBI on the evening.

Gary scored the first run for the first time in a week when they struck three times in the first. Alex Crosby and Colin Willis each singled in their first at bats to place runners at first and second with one out. Kris Goodman followed with a RBI double that plated Crosby and advanced Willis to third to give Gary the early advantage. Goodman and Willis each scored on a two-out error from Sioux Falls third baseman Tyler Wolfe that made the score 3-0 Gary.

Sioux Falls chipped away at the deficit in the bottom half of the first inning. Blake Schmit doubled with two outs to start the offensive attack. After Jabari Henry walked, Patrick Fiala drove in Schmit on a single to cut the RailCats’ lead to 3-1.

The score stayed the same until the top of the fourth. Crosby and Reggie Wilson each hit one-out singles to place the runners on first and second. Willis then hit into a fielder’s choice to put runners on the corners with two outs before Goodman drove in Crosby for the second time Thursday with a base hit to extend the Gary lead back to three.

The RailCats pushed across another run in the fifth. Frank Martinez began the frame with a single and advanced to second soon after on Wilfredo Gimenez’s walk. Ryan Fitzgerald followed with a fielder’s choice to have runners on the corners with one out. Martinez then scored on a wild pitch to give the RailCats a 5-1 advantage.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Canaries offense came to life after an error by Goodman to allow Burt Reynolds to reach. Schmit followed with a single. Reynolds advanced to third on a double play off the bat of Henry before Fiala knocked in his second run of the ballgame with a RBI single to cut the deficit to three once again at 5-2.

In the bottom of the ninth, Sioux Falls made things interesting. Brett Marr and Reynolds hit back to back singles. Marr advanced to third on Schmit’s flyout. As Reynolds was stealing second, Giminez committed an error that allowed Marr to score to cut the deficit to 5-3. Henry followed with a single to score Reynolds to allow Sioux Falls to be only down by a run. Fiala reached on the second error of the game from Goodman that allowed Henry to advance to third. The game then became tied at 5-5 when Chris Jacobs drove in Henry on a sacrifice fly.

Gary ace Alex Gunn continues to dominate as he pitched his eighth consecutive quality start. He only allowed an earned run, two total, in seven innings of work. Gunn did allow a season-high tying 10 hits, but only walked one and struck out five in the no-decision. Drasen Johnson (4-4) picked up the victory despite allowing three runs, one earned, in the ninth inning. Jose Ortega (4-8) allowed an earned run in the 10^th to suffer the loss. Sam Myers (1) pitched 0.2 innings of scoreless ball to pick up his first professional save.

The RailCats with the victory finish their regular season road schedule 10 games over .500 at 28-18. They also improve to 11-6 in extra innings and 7-1 in extra innings on the road. Tonight’s 18-hit effort was a season high as well.                                              

Gary returns home for a four-game homestand against the Lincoln Saltdogs starting on Friday to conclude the regular season. Daniel Minor (2-0, 2.83) makes his sixth of the season for Gary while Lincoln has yet to announce their starter for the series opener.

Friday’s game is “Breakfast” Club Night and a Fireworks Friday. We’ll have breakfast for dinner and play 80s music. Wear your pajamas to the ballpark and stick around after the game for an explosive Fifth Third Bank Fireworks Show!

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.