Press Releases

RailCats split doubleheader; avoid series sweep

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (May 21, 2016)
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

ST. PAUL, Minn. After being postponed on Saturday, the Gary SouthShore RailCats avoided being swept on the road by the St. Paul Saints for the second straight season by taking game two of Sunday’s doubleheader, 10-3. Gary left a season-high 12 runners on base in game one and was shutout, 4-0, for the team’s third consecutive defeat.

After hitting two home runs in the season opener on Thursday, St. Paul relied on the long ball again in game one of Sunday’s doubleheader. Tim Colwell pulled a high, towering drive down the right field line to begin the bottom of the first, putting the Saints in front 1-0. Brady Shoemaker kept the inning going with a two-out double into left-center field before Tony Thomas blasted his second home run of the season down the left field line, increasing the Saints’ lead to three.

The Saints extended their lead to four in game one with a run in the fourth. Thomas led off the frame with a double to left-center for his second hit before Anthony Gallas brought him home with an RBI single off the glove of shortstop Andy DeJesus into center field.

Randy Santiesteban led off the seventh with a pinch-hit double to left-center before Frank Martinez reached base for the third time in game one with an infield single off the glove of third baseman Nate Hanson, however, the RailCats were unable to score. Seth Rosin (3) then came in with two on and shut the door with his third save in as many games. Rosin induced a double play and another groundout to end game one.

Jeff McKenzie (0-1) went the distance in his RailCats debut after being acquired in the offseason. The southpaw allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out four while walking two in the complete game loss.

John Straka (1-0) earned the win in game one in his season debut for St. Paul. The right-hander yielded four hits and walked three while striking out six over five scoreless frames.

Gary (1-3) ended its 17-inning scoreless streak with five runs in the third inning of game two. Ryan Fitzgerald led off the frame with the RailCats’ first triple of the season to the right-center wall. John Holland officially ended the scoreless streak with an RBI groundout to second, bringing home Fitzgerald. Kris Goodman then drew a walk before Chase Harris brought him around with an RBI double to left-center. Colin Willis made it 3-0 with an RBI single to left-center before Frank Martinez extended the RailCats’ lead to five with a two-run single to right.

St. Paul (3-1) cut the RailCats’ lead to two with three runs in the bottom of the third. Brady Burzynski drew a leadoff walk before Tony Thomas advanced him to third with a two-out single to right. Anthony Gallas put the Saints on the board with an RBI double to right, bringing home Burzynski. A Braulio Torres-Perez wild pitch scored Thomas from third before Danny Oh made it 5-3 with an RBI single into right, plating Gallas.

Gary went in front by three in the fourth after Kris Goodman stole second, however, the ball on the throw down hit Goodman in the foot and rolled into center field, allowing Holland to score from third on the throwing error. The RailCats regained their five-run lead with two more runs in the fifth on back-to-back RBI single by Holland and Goodman.

The RailCats added two more in the sixth to go up 10-3. Martinez recorded the final of his three hits and three RBIs with an RBI double to left-center before Jaime Del Valle brought across the final run of the evening with an RBI single to right.

Torres-Perez (1-0) recorded the win in his season debut. The southpaw tossed 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, yielding two hits and walk while punching out three.

Jason Creasy (0-1) suffered the loss in his season debut for St. Paul. Creasy retired the first six batters he faced, three via the strikeout, before allowing seven of the next eight batters to reach base in the third. Creasy was officially charged with five runs on five hits and two walks over 2.1 innings.

Gary continues its seven-game road trip on Monday at 7:05 p.m. with a three-game series vs. Kansas City. RHP Charle Rosario (0-1, 7.94) makes his second start of the year for the RailCats while RHP Matt Walters (0-0, 0.00) makes his season debut.

Gary’s home opener is on Friday, May 26 vs. the Texas Airhogs. Friday’s game vs. the Airhogs is a Fifth Third Bank Fireworks Friday and features a free magnet schedule giveaway to the first 1,000 fans, courtesy of Great Lakes Orthopedics.

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. 

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