FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (August 24, 2017)
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

Box Score

LINCOLN, Neb. —Two insurance runs in the top of ninth, 6.2 innings of one-run ball from Daniel Minor and the seven-out save from Jorge De Leon led the Gary SouthShore RailCats to a 4-1 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs on Thursday night to cap off the seven-game road trip. The win was Gary’s third consecutive and gave Gary a 5-2 record during their seven-game road trip.
 
Gary (51-38) took the opening lead for the fifth consecutive game with two runs in the second. Frank Martinez led off the inning with a double down the third base line, however, a fielding error from left fielder Brandon Jacobs allowed Martinez to move up to third. Wilfredo Gimenez quickly made it 1-0 in favor of the RailCats with an RBI groundout on the first pitch he saw. Joey Havrilak kept the inning going after drawing a five-pitch walk before Cole Fabio reached on a two-out, infield single. Alex Crosby followed Fabio with an RBI double into the left field corner, scoring Havrilak from second.

Lincoln (54-33) cut the Gary lead in half in the fourth. Curt Smith reached on a single to center before moving up to second on a wild pitch. Randolph Oduber followed Smith with an RBI double off the base of the right-center wall, bringing Smith around to score from second.

The RailCats added two insurance runs in the ninth to go up 4-1. Crosby drew a four-pitch walk to begin the inning before Cameron Newell moved him up the third with a one-out double down the left field line. Kris Goodman was then intentionally walked, loading the bases for Martinez. Martinez made the Saltdogs pay with an opposite-field RBI single, bringing home Crosby. Gimenez gave Gary a three-run lead with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Newell for the final run of the night.

Minor (2-0) recorded his second straight win with a season-high eight strikeouts. The right-hander allowed just seven hits and a walk and retired seven of the final eight batters he faced. Gary also improved to 4-0 when Minor starts a game for the RailCats since getting acquiring in the trade from Winnipeg back on August 10th.

De Leon (9) secured the win with the seven-out save. De Leon retired seven of the eight hitters he faced, including one via a punchout, and extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 11.2.

Bennett Parry (2-2) was charged with the loss in his second start of the year against the RailCats. The southpaw yielded two runs on seven hits, four walks and three strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Friday for a three-game series vs. Kansas City at 7:10 p.m. Right-hander Ayrton Costa (2-3, 6.38) opposes T-Bones right-hander Luis Paula (5-2, 3.36) in the series opener.

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