FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (August 25, 2017)
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

Box Score

GARY, Ind. — Gary’s 8-0 shutout loss to the Kansas City T-Bones for the second straight night dropped the RailCats into second place in the Wild Card standings with eight games remaining in the regular season. Gary SouthShore recorded just four hits for the second straight night and had a baserunner reach third only twice.

Kansas City (52-39) took the opening lead for the second straight night via the home run ball in the top of the second. Dexter Kjerstad recorded the first hit of the game with a leadoff single to left-center before Niko Vasquez kept his first home run of the season just inside the left field foul pole, giving the T-Bones an early 2-0 lead.

The T-Bones increased their lead to 5-0 with three more runs in the top of the third. Back-to-back singles from Cedric Hunter and Marcus Lemon gave Kansas City runners on first and second before Kevin Keyes drew a walk to load the bases. A passed ball by catcher Wilfredo Gimenez allowed Hunter to score from third before Paul Hendrix drew the second straight walk of the inning to load the bases again. With Vasquez hitting, a throwing error from Gimenez on a back pick to third sailed into left field, scoring both Lemon and Keyes.

Kansas City tacked on another run in the top of the fifth, extending their lead to 6-0. Hunter led off the inning with his second single of the game before Keyes moved Hunter up to third with a double to right-center. Hendrix then delivered a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Hunter.

The T-Bones added the final two runs of the night in the seventh, increasing their lead to 7-0. Hendrix made it 7-0 with his second sacrifice fly of the game before a two-out RBI single from Chantz Mack scored Lemon for the final run of the game.

Jeff McKenzie (4-4) had his three-game winning streak snapped in the loss. The Gary (51-40) left-hander allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out a pair over six innings.

Matt Sergey (5-3) recorded the win in his first start in over two weeks. The veteran tossed six shutout innings, yielding four hits, three walks and six punchouts.

Gary resumes their three-game series vs. Kansas City on Sunday afternoon at 2:10 p.m. Alex Gunn (7-5, 3.54) makes his league-high-tying 23rd start of the season for the RailCats while the T-Bones counter with southpaw Billy Waltrip (1-6, 6.75) in the series finale.

Sunday’s game features Pre-Game Autographs, a Pre-Game Catch, Kids Run the Bases and a Team Card Set Giveaway. The first 1,000 fans receive a 2017 team card set and can receive autographs from the RailCats right when gates open. Remember to bring a ball and glove for your chance to play catch on the field before the game and stick around afterwards as kids can run the bases!

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.