FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (May 22, 2016)
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

Kansas City, Kan. — A five-run top of the seventh and four scoreless innings from the bullpen gave the Gary SouthShore RailCats a 7-4 win over the Kansas City T-Bones on Monday night at Community America Ballpark for the team’s second straight win. The RailCats bullpen has now allowed just one run in 16.2 innings (0.54 ERA) after Monday’s shutout performance.

Ryan Fritze (1-0) recorded the win in his professional baseball debut. The right-hander retired all three hitters he faced in a scoreless sixth inning of relief. Jack Fowler (1) and Tyler Harris (1) each earned holds with one scoreless inning out of the bullpen. Drasen Johnson (1) secured the come-from-behind victory with the team’s first save in the bottom of the ninth.

Kansas City (1-3) jumped in front with a run in the bottom of the first. Omar Garcia recorded the first hit of the evening with an infield single to the left side before advancing to second on a groundout to the right side. Garcia then stole third before Kevin Keyes delivered an RBI single to left for the first of his three hits.

Gary (2-3) took their first lead of the series with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Frank Martinez led off the inning with an infield single before Alex Crosby pulled a double down the first base line, giving the RailCats a pair of runners in scoring position. Wilfredo Gimenez brought home Martinez for the RailCats’ first run of the evening with an RBI groundout to Eddie Newton at short. Andy DeJesus then reached on an error by Newton, allowing Crosby to score from second, giving Gary the one-run lead.

The T-Bones went back up by two on Leo Rojas’ two-run home run to left in the third. Kansas City then doubled their lead to 4-2 on Chase McDonald’s sacrifice fly to right in the ninth.

Gary regained the lead with five runs in the top of the seventh. An RBI double from Chase Harris followed by a two-run triple put the RailCats back in front, 5-4. Colin Willis made it 6-4 with an RBI double into the left field corner before Martinez brought Willis around from second for the game’s final run with an RBI single to right.

Aaron Brooks (1-1) suffered his first loss of the year. Brooks allowed four runs on five hits in 0.2 of an inning of relief.

Gary and Kansas City resume their three-game series on Tuesday night from Community America Ballpark at 7:05 p.m. LHP Alex Gunn (0-0, 1.80) makes his second start of the year for the RailCats while RHP Scott Carroll (0-0, 0.00) makes his American Association debut for the T-Bones.

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.