Box Score

Game Highlights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2018
Contact: Brennan Mense
[email protected]

Gary, Ind. — A date with the American Association’s cellar dweller was not enough to cure the slumping RailCats offense as they fell 5-3 to the Texas AirHogs on Monday night at the U.S. Steel Yard. A middle-innings assault by Texas against RailCats starter Lars Liguori would be too much for the RailCats to overcome.

After struggling all night offensively, the RailCats would get the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but fell short.

The RailCats got on the board first thanks to Andy De Jesus’ daring baserunning in the first inning. After drawing a one-out walk, De Jesus stole second, advanced to third on an Andy Paz flyout before scoring on a wild pitch to give the ‘Cats a 1-0 lead.

AirHogs starter Meng Weiqiang would settle down and traded scoreless innings with RailCats’ southpaw Liguori.

In the fourth, though, the AirHogs would break through against Liguori, taking a 2-1 lead. An RBI single by Chen Junpeng would tie the contest, then Correlle Prime came home one batter on a fielder’s choice to give the AirHogs the lead, which they would not relinquish.

Gary (24-24) would mount a rally in the bottom of the fourth, as Willis slashed a one-out double for Gary’s first hit of the contest. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Garrett Copeland would draw a walk to put runners on the corners. However, the RailCats would run themselves out of the inning, as Copeland would be caught stealing second, then Willis ended the inning being thrown out trying to score on a wild pitch.

Texas (13-34) would then extend their lead two innings later, as Correlle Prime led off the sixth with his third home run of the season, a missile that clanged off the scoreboard in left-center field. The AirHogs would extend the lead in bizarre fashion, as a routine fly ball to left by Chen Chen was lost in the twilight by Reggie Wilson, allowing Chen Junpeng to score from first to make it a 4-1 Texas lead.

After being held to just one hit in the first five frames, Gary would try to chip away in the bottom of the sixth, as Dillon Thomas misplayed Andy Paz’s fly ball to left center into a two-out triple. After Colin Willis drew his second walk of the game, Weiqiang would throw away a pickoff throw, allowing Paz to trot home from third to make it a two-run game.    

Texas would get the run right back in the seventh as Correlle Prime drove in his second run of the night on a two-out RBI single. Weiqiang would then depart after 6.0 innings, allowing just two hits and two runs (one earned) to earn his fourth victory of the inning.

The RailCats would attempt to chip away once again in the eighth against the Texas bullpen, as Andy De Jesus’ daring baserunning would show up again, leading off with a single, followed up by his second stolen base of the night. He would then score all the way from second on a sacrifice fly to right from Andy Paz to make a 5-3 game. However, Colin Willis would be robbed of an extra-base hit on a diving catch by center fielder Song Yunqi, which helped hold the RailCats to one run in the eighth.

AirHogs closer Carlos Contreras would work around a one-out single in the ninth to record his fourth save.

Gary continues their three-game series vs. Texas on Tuesday afternoon at 12:10 p.m. The RailCats send LHP Jeff McKenzie (2-5, 4.97) to the mound while the AirHogs counter with Tyler Matzek (1-5, 6.09) in the middle game of the series.

Tuesday’s game is Youth & Senior Day, presented by AARP Indiana and another Taco and CHN Tuesday! Tuesday’s taco special features $2 beef tacos and $5 margaritas.

Jared Shlensky and Brennan Mense bring you all 100 RailCats game this season on WEFM (95.9 FM) and online at railcatsbaseball.com. Ticket packages for the 2018 Gary SouthShore RailCats season are available online at railcatsbaseball.com and can also be purchased by calling the RailCats ticket line at (219) 882-BALL. The RailCats box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.