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Gary SouthShore Railcats

5-0 Lead Not Enough as Joplin Scores Eight on Gary Bullpen in 8-7 Win

August 2, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


Joplin, MO August 2, 2015- Pressed into a starting role Chuck Fontana delivered four scoreless innings allowing one hit Sunday night in Joplin. The offense also stepped up for the second night in a row and grabbed a 5-0 lead. That seemed to be a recipe for a second straight win for the RailCats. But, once Fontana left the game the Joplin Blasters offense woke up tagging the RailCats pen for eight runs and making two comebacks along the way to win game two of the series 8-7.

That good early feeling for the South Shore came courtesy of a 1-0 lead in the second. Facing Carlos Fuentes, also making his first start from the bullpen, Adam Taylor reached on an error by shortstop Maikol Gonzalez with one out. Roger Bernal would single to put runners at the corners on a text book hit and run. Alex Hernandez then hit a sac fly to right center to make it 1-0 RailCats.

In the third the RailCats kept it up. JD Pulfer led off with a single then stole second and went to third on a throwing error on the play from catcher Carlos Ramirez. Drew Martinez then singled to make it 2-0 Gary. Martinez then stole second and would come home when Fuentes fielded a Jaime Del Valle slow roller back at the mound and threw wide of third allowing Martinez to score. Adam Taylor then hit a triple to left center to score Del Valle and the RailCats were up 4-0.

The South Shore added another in the fourth and chased Fuentas. Alex Hernandez singled to lead off the inning. Ryan Brockett moved Hernandez to second setting up JD Pulfer who drove Hernandez home with a single and it was 5-0.

Chuck Fontana making a spot start retired the first seven he faced until a one out single in the third. The RailCats lefty then got a double play ball to end the inning. Fontana worked around a lead off error and a walk in the fourth by setting down the next three.

Fontana was done after four and the RailCats turned it over to the bullpen. Rookie Kevin Osaki was summoned into the game and gave up a hard hit leadoff single to Jesus Solarzano that Adam Taylor nearly made a great play on. Osaki got the next batter on fly to right then gave up a double to Mitch Glasser that scored Solarzano to make it 5-1. Osaki then retired Gabe Suarez on a ground ball to third for out number two and the RailCats looked like they might leave the inning with the lead of four.

Maikol Gonzalez reached on an infield single that glanced off the glove of Ryan Brockett at short putting runners at the corners. With Yasser Gomez at the plate Gonzalez broke for second and the throw from Jaime Del Valle was high and at the same time Glasser racedsafely home at it was 5-2. Gomez hit a ball to third and Roger Bernal made a good back hand play on but his throw was low and away at first to JD Pulfer and Gonzalez came around to score to make it 5-3. The next batter Jario Perez took Osaki deep to left center for his first homerun of the season and the game was tied at five.

In the sixth the Blasters would take their first lead of the series. Jesse Snodgrass took over for Gary and gave up a one out triple to Solarzano, who was working his way into the hero of the night status. Carlos Ramirez then singled up the box and it was a 6-5 Joplin advantage.

The RailCats did fight back after being held in check by the Blasters bullpen in the fifth, sixth and seventh. Sam Agnew-Wieland worked 2.2 scoreless innings and Victor Capellan added another scoreless inning to take the game into the eighth. With Capellan still in the game Adam Taylor hit a two run homerun to right his first of the year and the RailCats had come back to take a 7-6 lead with just six more outs to go.

Yet, the Blasters had one more rally in them fueled by Solarzano as the RailCats pen could not hold off Joplin. In the home half of the eighth Chris Bodishbaugh gave up a leadoff single to Jario Perez. Omar Luna would sacrifice him over to second for out number one. Then Jake Taylor bounced out to short for out number two and the Cats looked like they might get out of the inning with the lead. That set up Solarzano, who hit a deep drive to center field for his seventh homerun of the season and the game was now 8-7. The Joplin right fielder finished the night 3 for 4 with three runs scored and a pair driven in.

The RailCats went 1-2-3 in order in the ninth as Winston Abreu notched the save his 12th. Capellan (5-2) was the winner in relief and Bodishbaugh (1-1) was charged with the loss. Drew Martinez went 3 for 5 in the loss and Adam Taylor added three hits and three RBI for the RailCats.

Game three of the series is set for Monday night at 7:05pm from Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin. The RailCats will turn to LHP Rene Solis (1-6, 4.51) while the Blasters will send out LHP Josue Montanez (1-1, 1.61). The game can be heard on 95.9 WEFM and online at RailCatsBaseball.com.

The RailCats return home for a six game homestand that begins Wednesday night at US Steel Yard. The South Shore will host the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the first of a three game series at 7:10pm.

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