FARGO, N.D. - Randall Simon hit a two-run home run off the batter's eye in dead center to give the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks a walk-off 7-6 win over the Gary SouthShore RailCats Wednesday night at Newman Outdoor Field, just after Steve Haake had put the ‘Cats in front with a three-run homer of his own in the top of the ninth.
Simon drilled the first pitch from Andy Shipman (1-2) to the deepest part of the ballpark, blasting the fourth RedHawks home run of the night and handing the RailCats a heart-breaking loss one night after absorbing an 18-1 loss. Simon's shot drove in Nic Jackson from third after Jackson was walked by Edwin Walker to lead off the inning. Jackson stole second and went to third on a groundout before Simon's homer.
The RailCats offense was held in check by reliever T.J. Stanton, who went 3.1 innings and retired seven straight to turn the ball over to Fargo close Elvys Quezada (2-0) in the ninth with a two-run lead. But the ‘Cats went to work quickly off Quezada, with Mike Massaro and Eric McNamee each singling to start the inning and moving to second and third on a Jay Pecci bunt. Haake was also first pitch swinging, cracking a deep drive well over the wall in right to give the RailCats their first lead since the fourth inning, 6-5. Haake's home run was his sixth of the year, and gave him team-leading RBIs 30, 31 and 32.
The RailCats had a good offensive showing against ace Fargo starter Broc Coffman, touching the lefty up for three runs in the third inning and chasing Coffman before the start of the fourth. The ‘Cats started the third with five straight singles, including run-scoring hits from Massaro, McNamee and Pecci to go ahead 3-1.
Fargo answered the inning quickly, however, scoring twice in the fourth and twice more in the fifth against starter Onan Masaoka. Jeremiah Piepkorn homered in both innings and Yurendell DeCaster joined him with a solo shot in the fifth, his league-leading 13th of the year. Masasoka allowed five earned runs on seven hits and five walks in 5.0 innings.
The RailCats out-hit the RedHawks 11-9, with McNamee going 3-for-4 and Massaro and Pecci each collecting two hits. Simon, Piepkorn and Carlo Cota had two hits to lead Fargo.
The RailCats (17-20) and RedHawks (17-17) close out their three-game series Thursday with a special 12:30 p.m. game at Newman Outdoor Field. Grant Johnson (2-4, 5.54 ERA) will make the start for the ‘Cats against Fargo right-hander Garry Bakker (2-2, 3.56). That game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.
Notes: The home run allowed by Shipman is the first earned run he has allowed with the RailCats (9.1 innings) ... the RailCats have lost five straight games at Fargo and are now just 3-8 against the RedHawks this year ... the RedHawks have hit six home runs in the first two games of the series ... the RailCats have allowed a league-leading 43 home runs, and the RedHawks have hit a league-leading 51.
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