FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (August 19, 2017)
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

Box Score

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The third complete game of the year for Alex Gunn wasn’t enough on Saturday night as the Gary SouthShore RailCats fell to the Kansas City T-Bones, 3-2, in the middle game of the series. The loss moves Gary back into second place behind Kansas City for first in the Wild Card, however, the RailCats are just 0.5 games behind the T-Bones.

Kansas City (48-37) took the opening lead of the series with an unearned run in the bottom of the first. Kevin Keyes recorded the first hit of the night with a two-out single to left-center. Dexter Kjerstad then hit a routine roller to Andy De Jesus at short, however, his throw airmailed Alex Crosby, giving the T-Bones runners on the corners. Kyle Petty followed with an RBI single, just out of the diving reach of Chase Harris in center, putting the T-Bones in front, 1-0.

Gary (47-37) tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the top of the fifth. Ryan Fitzgerald recorded the RailCats’ first hit of the night with an opposite field single before De Jesus singled to left-center, giving Gary runners on the corners. Cole Fabio followed with a sacrifice fly to right, bringing in Fitzgerald.

The T-Bones quickly regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Cedric Hunter singled to center before Marcus Lemon reached on a fielding error by second baseman Cole Fabio on a possible inning-ending double play ball. Keyes and Kjerstad followed Lemon with back-to-back RBI singles, giving Kansas City their biggest lead of the evening at 3-1.

The RailCats added a run in the ninth, cutting the deficit to one. Colin Willis led off the inning with a single for his first hit of the evening. Willis then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Zane Chavez. Cameron Newell then drew a walk before Kris Goodman grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, bringing home Willis for the final run of the game.

Gunn (7-5) allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits, no walks and five strikeouts in the loss. Gunn tossed three perfect innings and retired 10 of the final 11 he faced.

Luis Paula (5-2) earned the win with 6.2 innings of work. The right-hander allowed one run on three hits, two walks and five strikeouts in just his third start of the year. Cody Winiarski (17) secured the win with the save in the ninth despite allowing a run.

Gary concludes their three-game series vs. Kansas City on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Daniel Minor (0-0, 4.00) makes his first third start of the season for the RailCats while the T-Bones counter with right-hander Gabe Perez (7-5,4.70) in the rubber game.                                                                               

Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Friday, August 25th, for a three-game series vs. Kansas City at 7:10 p.m. Friday’s game is Stand Up to Cancer Night, features a Hat Giveaway and is another Fireworks Friday. The first 1,000 fans receive a hat, courtesy of Methodist Hospitals, while Fireworks and Stand Up to Cancer Night are presented by Fifth Third Bank.

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.