FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (July 16, 2017)
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]
Article written by Austin Anderson, Broadcast/Media Relations Asst.

GARY, Ind. — The Gary SouthShore RailCats completed the sweep against the Salina Stockade by the score of 9-4. The sweep was Gary’s third of the season, and the first since completing a three-game sweep against Sioux City on June 21. With the win, along with Kansas City’s 13-2 win over Winnipeg, the RailCats are now currently tied for the top wild card position.

The RailCats (32-24) took advantage of the first three hitters reaching in the bottom of the first to jump out to an early 1-0 lead. Cameron Newell was grazed on the jersey to start the inning before Tyler Sullivan singled back up the middle. Colin Willis followed with an RBI single to right, scoring Newell from second for the first run of the game.

Gary extended its lead to two with another run in the second. Newell reached with two outs after getting hit for the second of three times on the day. Sullivan and Willis drew back-to-back walks to load the bases before Frank Martinez increased his team-high RBI total to 41 with an RBI single down the right field line.

Salina (6-49) tied the game at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the third. Jonathan Moroney got the Stockade on the board with a sacrifice fly to right before Kewby Meyer evened the game with a two-out RBI double down the left field line. 

Gary regained the lead with five runs in the bottom of the third. James Alfonso put the RailCats back in front with an RBI double to left before Chase Harris increased the RailCats lead to 5-2 with a two-run double off the base of the left field wall. Three batters later, Willis pulled a two-run single through the right side, giving the RailCats their biggest lead of the afternoon at 7-2.

The Stockade clawed back into the game in the sixth with a pair of runs. Moroney led off with a triple. He scored a batter later when Sullivan’s error in left allowed Meyer to reach. Meyer later scored in the inning on a throwing error from Martinez to make the score 7-4.

The RailCats answered with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Alfonso hit a one out double. Kris Goodman followed with a walk. Andy DeJesus singled to load the bases. Harris hit an RBI single to score Alfonso. Newell followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Goodman to give Gary its five-run cushion back.

All nine RailCats starters reached base in the ballgame. The only RailCat to not record a hit was Newell. He was hit by a pitch in his first three at bats. Newell also scored three runs and recorded an RBI. 

Marshall Pautsch (1-0) earned his first professional victory on Sunday. He pitched seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and six hits. He walked one and struck out two. Salina southpaw Brian Smith (1-8) surrendered seven earned runs on eleven hits in the loss. He walked two and struck out three in three innings of work.

Gary is idle on Monday before starting a six-game homestand on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. vs. the Cleburune RailRoaders. Neither team has yet to announce their starter for Tuesday’s series opener.

Tuesday’s game is another CHN and Taco Tuesday at U.S. Steel Yard. Visit NW Indiana Community HealthNet locations for complimentary reserved seat tickets to every CHN Tuesday game and don't miss out on our special $2 beef tacos.

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