FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2017
Contact: Austin Anderson 
219-882-BALL ext. 229

The Gary SouthShore RailCats (4-3, 2^nd in Central) begin their 2017 home schedule tomorrow as they host the Texas AirHogs (3-4, 2^nd in South) at 7:10 p.m. for the first game of a three-game series. The RailCats come into Friday’s contest on a four-game winning streak after completing a sweep in Kansas City and winning the series finale against the St. Paul. The AirHogs also enter this series playing solid baseball as they have won three of their last four games, including a doubleheader sweep of Wichita on Wednesday.

Gary’s offense will look to continue their impressive week. 30 runs have been scored by the club in its last four games. C Wilfredo Gimenez, DH Frank Martinez, and OF Colin Willis have been three of the catalysts during the streak. Martinez leads the team with 10 hits (four of those of the extra-base variety), eight RBI, and one home run so far this season. Gimenez, in only four games, has nine hits, which ties him for Willis for second on the team. This trio is joined by 1B Alex Crosby, C Jaime Del Valle, and OF Anthony Cheky Jr. as the six players who are batting over .300 for the team so far.

RailCats manager Greg Tagert plans to send LHP Jeff McKenzie (0-1, 6.00 ERA) to the hill on Friday. RHP Charle Rosario (0-1, 6.75) will make his third start of the season on Saturday, and LHP Alex Gunn will pitch in the finale for Gary.

Texas is managed by Billy Martin Jr., the son of the famed MLB manager Billy Martin. He will counter with RHP Carlos Contreras (0-1, 11.25) on Friday, RHP Scott Firth on Saturday (1-0, 0.00), and LHP Griffin Russell (0-1, 9.00) on Sunday. The RailCats will likely not face former MLB southpaw James Russell in this series as he started against Wichita on Wednesday.

The AirHogs pitching staff has carried the team as their total ERA is an impressive 3.50 in the season’s first week.  Offensively, the team will hope to improve this series against Gary as the team has a combined .204 batting average. Outfielders Levi Scott (.524 AVG, 3 RBI) and Denis Phipps (.304 AVG, 3 RBI) have led Texas offensively thus far.

Besides the great baseball on the diamond, there will be exciting promotions at the Steel Yard. The RailCats promotional schedule gets off to an exploding start on Friday as the RailCats will have a Fireworks Friday show after the game and a magnet schedule giveaway will transpire. Saturday’s game (3:10 p.m. first pitch) includes a Crawfish Fest, and the series will conclude Sunday (6:10 start time) with a pregame catch on the field and fireworks after the game.

After the Texas series, the RailCats will conclude their homestand with a four-game set against the Kansas City T-Bones from Monday thru Thursday. The RailCats just completed a three-game sweep against the T-Bones on Wednesday in Kansas City.

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.