For Immediate Release

July 6, 2021

Booming Bats Lead the Way for the ‘Cats

GARY, Ind.- To set up a rubber match in game three, the Gary SouthShore RailCats (20-25) erupted for a 16-5 win over the Chicago Dogs (27-18) to even up the series in game two at the Steel Yard in Gary, Indiana.

The 16-run outburst is the highest of the year for the ‘Cats in the highest scoring game of the season with the most hits and the largest winning margin as well. 

Both MJ Rookard and Ciaran Devenney recorded their first four-hit efforts of the season in the win, adding three and two RBI respectively. Additionally, Ryan Cash posted his first three-hit outing of the year as well, scoring three runs with two RBI. For both Cash and Devenney, their respective outbursts are the first of their professional careers.

For the Dogs, Ryan Lidge and Danny Mars each recorded four-hit days at the plate yet came up shy in the loss. 

In the first frame, Raymond Jones would double home Zach Welz to get the ‘Cats on the board. Jones would finish the night 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a team-high four RBI.

While the Dogs took the lead back on a KC Hobson three-run home run in the third, the RailCats would answer with vengeance.

Gary SouthShore opened things up with a six-run third to leap over the Dogs and take a 7-3 lead. Chicago added two more between the fourth and the sixth, and right when Chicago thought they were back in the game, the RailCats pounced once again.

For the second time in the ballgame, the RailCats batted around in the inning, scoring eight runs in the sixth to balloon their lead up to 15-5. This marked the ‘Cats second eight-run inning of the season and their seventh six-run innings.

The win went to Sandy Lugo (1-2), who threw two innings of one-run baseball with three hits and two strikeouts. 

Dogs’ starter Andro Curtura (0-1) suffered the loss after 2.1 innings, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

RailCats’ starter Yoel De Leon earned a no-decision in his first start of the year in the green and white after four innings with four runs, eight hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

Game three between the Gary SouthShore RailCats and the Chicago Dogs is scheduled for tomorrow, July 7 at 7:10 p.m. at the Steel Yard in Gary, Indiana to decide the series’ victor.

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