Box Score

Game Highlights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2018
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

CLEBURNE, Texas — A single-game season-high five hits from Ronnie Mitchell and 19 hits from Gary led the RailCats to an 11-5 win over the Cleburne Railroaders in the final regular-season game of the year between the two teams on Monday night. Every starter recorded at least one hit in Gary’s seventh consecutive win and have now outscored their opponents, 76-26, during that span.

Cleburne (20-48) ended Gary’s run of scoring first in 12 straight games on Levi Scott’s two-out, two-run home run to left-center in the first. Scott’s homer was his third of the series and his team-high 11th of the year.

Gary (39-27) quickly responded with a three-run second to take the lead for good. Reggie Wilson reached on a dropped third strike with one out before back-to-back singles from Garrett Copeland and Will Savage loaded the bases. Alex Crosby then made it 2-1 with an RBI groundout to third before D.K. Carey gave the ‘Cats a 3-2 lead with a two-out, two-run single to left.

Wilfredo Gimenez doubled the RailCats lead with a sacrifice fly in the third before Gary scored five runs in the fifth to take a commanding 9-2 lead. Randy Santiesteban led off the inning with a double down the left field line before Mitchell recorded the third of his five hits with a drag bunt single to first. Tillman Pugh followed with an RBI infield single before Gimenez delivered an RBI double. Wilson extended the RailCats lead to 7-5 with a sacrifice fly to right before Copeland blasted a two-run homer to right field.

The Railroaders added two more runs in the sixth, cutting the RailCats lead to 9-4. Back-to-back singles from Angel Rosa and Trevor Sealey gave Cleburne runners on first and second before Chase Simpson grounded out to Alex Gunn, moving both runners into scoring position. John Hayes followed with an RBI groundout to second before Patrick Palmeiro drove in the final run of the inning with an RBI double to left.

Cleburne scored their final run in the seventh to make it 9-5 on KC Huth’s two-out opposite field home run. The home run was Huth’s second of the year and the last of three total home runs on the night.

Gary brought in the final two runs of the series in the eighth. Santiesteban drew a leadoff walk before Mitchell went the other way with the final of his five singles. Pugh gave the ‘Cats a five-run lead with an RBI single to right before a throwing error by Railroaders third baseman Simpson allowed Mitchell to score on a Wilson fielder’s choice.

Gunn (7-3) recorded his third straight win after allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits, a walk and two strikeouts over seven innings. The southpaw retired 11 in a row at one point and is 3-0 in the second half. Patrick Mincey (0-8) allowed a season-high nine runs (five earned), on 14 hits, a walk and struck out five in 4.1 innings.

Gary continues their six-day, seven-game road trip against the Texas AirHogs on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. Neither team has announced their starters for Tuesday’s series opener.

Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Friday, August 3rd for a six-game homestand. Friday’s game vs. the Wichita Wingnuts is Scout Night, Faith and Family Night and a Fifth Third Bank Fireworks Friday.

Jared Shlensky and Brennan Mense bring you all 100 RailCats game this season on WEFM (95.9 FM) and online at railcatsbaseball.com. Ticket packages for the 2018 Gary SouthShore RailCats season are available online at railcatsbaseball.com and can also be purchased by calling the RailCats ticket line at (219) 882-BALL. The RailCats box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.