Box Score

Game Highlights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2018
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

FARGO, N.D. — Six runs through six innings and six innings of one-run ball from Gabe Perez paced the Gary SouthShore RailCats to an 8-2 win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the middle game of the series on Wednesday night at Newman Outdoor Field. Wednesday’s win gives Gary back-to-back series wins for the first time since June 4th – June 10th and improves the RailCats record against the RedHawks to 16-5 dating back to last year.

For the second consecutive game, Gary (29-26) took a 2-0 lead with a pair of two-out runs in the first. Randy Santiesteban recorded the first hit of the night with a bunt single to third before Colin Willis pulled the very next pitch into right field. Ronnie Mitchell followed with a two-out, two-run double off the right field fence on a hop, plating both Santiesteban and Willis.

Alex Crosby extended the RailCats lead to three with a solo home run down the right field line to begin the third inning. The homer was Crosby’s fifth of the season and his second at Newman Outdoor Field.

The RailCats made it 4-0 with another two-out run in the fourth. Back-to-back walks from Wilfredo Gimenez and Garett Copeland gave Gary runners on first and second before Will Savage pulled a single into left to load the bases. Crosby then recorded his second RBI with a bases-loaded walk, bringing home Gimenez from third.

Gary added two more runs in the top of the fifth to go up 6-0. Santiesteban reached base for the third straight time after getting hit on the side to begin the inning before Willis singled to right, giving the ‘Cats runners on the corners. Mitchell recorded the last of his three RBI with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Santiesteban from third. Gimenez followed with an RBI single to right, bringing around Willis to score.

Chris Jacobs prevented Fargo-Moorhead (30-26) from getting shutout with a solo home run just inside the left field foul pole to open the bottom of the fifth. The home run was the RedHawks second of the series and was Jacobs’ fifth of the season.

The RailCats took their biggest lead of the series at 8-1 with two more runs in the top of the ninth. Crosby reached on an error by his counterpart Jacobs at first before Tillman Pugh hit an opposite-field, two-run home run to right. The homer was Pugh’s first of the season and was Gary’s fifth multi-homer contest.

The RedHawks added one more run in bottom of the ninth, cutting the RailCats lead to 8-2. Brennan Metzger led off the inning with a hustle-double down the left field line before a Charlie Valerio flyout to right allowed Metzger to advance to third. Leo Pina followed with an RBI groundout to second, scoring Metzger for the final run of the night.

Gabe Perez (3-0) recorded his second straight win after allowing just one run in a season-best six innings. The right-hander yielded four hits, walked one and struck out four in his fourth start of the year. Jeff McKenzie (1) allowed one run on two hits, a hit batsman and struck out one in the three-inning save for his first save of the year.

DJ Brown (6-1) was tagged with his first loss in 12 starts. The right-hander allowed six runs on eight hits, four walks and struck out four over 4.1 innings.

Gary concludes their six-game, seven-day road trip and three-game series against Fargo-Moorhead on Thursday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. RailCats’ Daniel Minor (9-2, 3.00) makes his league-high 14th start against the reigning American Association Pitcher of the Week Will Solomon (5-4, 3.77).

Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Friday, July 20th vs. the St. Paul Saints. Friday’s game is Kevin “Bacon” Night and includes bacon-themed concession specials, as well as another Fifth Third Bank Fireworks Friday.

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.