Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Game Highlights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2018
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

GARY, Ind. — Gary recorded a pair of wins against St. Paul in the beginning of a six-game homestand with a 3-0 shutout in game one before defeating the Saints, 6-1, in game two on Saturday. The RailCats have now won four straight contests, three consecutive series and seven of their last eight games with Saturday’s wins. Saturday’s wins also moves the RailCats within half a game of first place in the North Division behind Fargo-Moorhead and St. Paul and can jump into first place for the first time since July 3rd with a win and a Fargo-Moorhead loss on Sunday.

Gary (32-26) struck first in the resumption of Friday’s suspended game on Saturday with the first run of the series in the second inning. Andy Paz singled with one out before Reggie Wilson drew a five-pitch walk. Andy De Jesus then pulled a single into right, loading the bases for Cole Fabio. Fabio came through with an RBI fielder’s choice, brinigng home Paz from third.

The RailCats doubled their lead with a two-out run in the third. Randy Santiesteban extended his hitting streak to nine games with a double down the third base line before Colin Willis grounded out to third, moving Santiesteban up to third. Tillman Pugh followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Santiesteban. 

Gary scored their final run in game one on Santiesteban’s solo home run to left to begin the eighth. The homer was Santiesteban’s final of his three hits in game one and was his fourth home run of the year.

Daniel Minor (10-2) recorded his league-high 10th win and seventh straight victory with seven shutout innings. Minor retired 21 of the 25 batters he faced and yielded just three hits, a walk and struck out six. During his league-best seven-game winning streak, Minor has a minuscule 1.69 ERA and has yielded just nine runs, 38 hits, 10 walks and has struck out 36 batters over 48 innings.

Jack Fowler (4) recorded his fourth hold with six strikes in a perfect top of the eighth while Adam Quintana (4) secured the win with his second consecutive save in a scoreless top of the ninth. Trevor Foss (1-2) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on eight hits, a walk and four strikeouts in seven innings of relief.

Gary jumped out in front again in game two with three unearned runs in the first. Alex Crosby singled to center to begin the inning before advancing to second on a Ryan Schlosser wild pitch. D.K. Carey then reached on catcher’s interference before Ronnie Mitchell put the ‘Cats on the board with a two-out, two-run triple down into the right field corner in his first at-bat at U.S. Steel Yard. Wilfredo Gimenez made it 3-0 with an RBI single to center.

The RailCats extended their lead to 4-0 with another unearned run in the second. Back-to-back singles from Garrett Copeland and Will Savage gave Gary runners on first and second. Two batters later, Carey plated Copeland with an RBI single down the third base line.

Gary added their final two runs of the evening in the third. Three straight singles from Mitchell, Gimenez and Wilson loaded the bases for Copeland. Copeland then drew a bases-loaded walk before Crosby brought in Gimenez with a sacrifice fly to center.

St. Paul (33-27) avoided being shutout on the evening with a run in the sixth. Brady Shoemaker drew a leadoff walk before Zach Walters doubled to left-center, giving the Saints a pair of baserunners in scoring position. Dante Bichette, Jr. followed Walters with an RBI groundout, bringing home Shoemaker from third.

Jeff McKenzie (3-6) recorded his first victory in relief after allowing just one run on four hits, a walk and three strikeotus over 3.2 innings. Schlosser (2-1) was tagged with the loss after yielding four unearned runs on six hits in 1.1 innings.

RailCats LHP Alex Gunn (1-6, 3.81) faces former RailCat and Saints RHP Matt Solter (1-4, 4.58) in Sunday’s series finale. Sunday’s game is Christmas in July and the World’s Largest White Elephant Gift Exchange, a Color Me Magnet Giveaway, and another Sunday Funday, NWI.com Times Family Sunday, Pre-Game Catch on the Field, presented by Dr. Geissler’s Hearing Center, and Kids Run the Bases. Bring a wrapped gift and you can exchange it for another gift as we celebrate Christmas in July while the first 250 kids through the gates receive a Color Me Magnet of Rusty the RailCat. Sunday FunDay includes $5 select cocktails while the Times Family Sunday special includes $10 tickets for two adults and up to four kids for those bring the NWI coupon to the box office via the NWI Times paper or their social media outlets.

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.