Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]
(Article written by Austin Anderson, Broadcast/Media Relations Assistant)

Box Score

The Gary SouthShore RailCats (12-7) fell in their series opener against the first-place Sioux City Explorers (13-6) by a score of 7-0. The RailCats are now 1-6 in the opening game of a series after getting shut out by Sioux City on Friday. 

Sioux City took an early 1-0 lead after two of the first three hitters of the game recorded hits. Michael Lang started the game with a soft single to left-center before a sacrifice bunt from Jayce Ray advanced Lang to second. The reigning American Association Player of the Year Nate Samson followed with an RBI single to center, plating Lang for the first run of the series.

LeVon Washington increased the Explorers lead to 2-0 with a solo home run to begin the fourth. The home run was Washington’s first of the season and was also the first homer allowed by Alex Gunn. 

The Sioux City lead was extended to three when Tyler Ogle hit a leadoff home run in the eighth inning against Jack Fowler for his second home run on the season.

The Explorers broke the game open in the ninth inning. Ogle picked up his second RBI of the evening  when he walked with the bases loaded, scoring Ray.Washington picked up his second RBI of the game when he hit an RBI single, scoring Samson. John Nogowski also scored on the play when Colin Willis committed an error in right field to make the score 6-0.

Lang would also walk with the bases loaded in the ninth, scoring Ogle, to extend the lead to seven.

John Holland had his second straight multi-hit game for the RailCats as he went 2-for-3 on the evening. Gunn (1-2) pitched five innings, surrendering two earned runs on eight hits. He also walked two and struck out three.

Sioux City’s Mark Vazquez pitched 4.1 scoreless innings in a no-decision. He gave up four hits and struck out three. Brad Orosey (2-0) threw 2.2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win.

The RailCats continue their three-game series vs. the Explorers on Saturday. First pitch in the middle game of the series is at 6:10 p.m. Southpaw Carlos Diaz (0-0, 3.60) makes his first start of the year for Gary and will face Sioux City southpaw Hobbs Johnson (2-0, 3.14) in his second start of the season vs. Gary. 

Saturday’s game is a Replica Jersey Giveaway. The first 1,000 fans to the Steel Yard receive a free RailCats replica jersey. Jared Shlensky and Austin Anderson bring you all 100 RailCats games this season on WEFM (95.9FM) 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.