NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

18-Hit Attack Paces RailCats Over 'Hammers

Published on July 29, 2009 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


JOLIET, Ill. - The Gary SouthShore RailCats exploded for 18 hits, including Jay Pecci's five singles, and Derell McCall got his second win in two starts as the RailCats defeated the Joliet JackHammers 11-5 Wednesday night at Silver Cross Field.

Pecci amassed the ninth five-hit contest in RailCats history, the second in his RailCat career, and the second of the season for the RailCats. Anthony Esquer collected the last five-hit game for Gary on July 12 in Winnipeg.

McCall (2-0) gave up two walks with two outs in the bottom of the second and Adam Klein delivered an RBI double to right field to give the JackHammers a 2-1 lead but after that, the veteran right-hander was excellent, giving up just two base hits over his final four innings of work while facing the minimum in that stretch.

Behind McCall, the RailCat offense picked up where it left off a night prior. Every RailCat reached base at least once and eight of nine RailCats starters amassed a hit. The RailCats were able to take the lead early with three hits and a run in the top of the first against Joliet starter Nate Sevier (0-1) but wouldn't touch the third-year JackHammer again until the fourth inning. Cristian Guerrero reached on a Vince Harrison error to lead off the inning and scored three batters later when Sevier committed a throwing error checking Rob Marconi back to first. As the ball skipped away from first baseman Freddie Thon, Guerrero trotted home to score an unearned run, tying the game at 2.

From there, it was all RailCats. Mike Rohde doubled to lead off the sixth but was waiting there as Sevier got the next two batters out. After intentionally walking Mike Massaro, Sevier went after Eric McNamee who took the seventh pitch of the at-bat into the outfield for a run-scoring single, plating Rohde. Pecci would follow up on the next pitch with his third single of the night, bringing Massaro home. Sevier was pushed out after six innings, giving up four runs on nine hits.

With Devin Anderson in the game for the seventh, the RailCats sent 10 men to the plate with five of the first six reaching base. With two on and one out, Rohde would get his second straight hit to bring home Jordan Czarniecki while Brett Wallace drove in Guerrero. Anderson walked Marconi to load the bases and McNamee would strike again for a two-run single, driving in his fifth and sixth runs of the series. Anderson was pulled after just two-thirds of an inning and new Joliet hurler Jason Novak was rudely greeted by Pecci who picked up his fourth hit to bring home Marconi, putting the RailCats ahead 9-2. Novak would allow two more RailCat runs in the eighth inning as Massaro drove in two to close out the scoring for Gary.

The RailCats (38-28) and JackHammers (24-42) continue their three-game series Thursday at 7 p.m. as the action shifts to U. S. Steel Yard. The ‘Cats will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Disco Demolition Night, with fans encouraged to bring old VHS, cassette, BETA tapes or other outdated formats to be blown up behind second base after the game. Plus, fans who bring something to be part of the post-game festivities will get $2 off the price of any ticket. The RailCats will also be giving free hot dogs to every fan Thursday on another Thirsty Thursday night, with $2 MGD and Miller Lite drafts available to fans 21-and-over.

Chris Jones (4-2, 3.13 ERA) will get the start for the RailCats against Joliet right-hander Rory Shortell (3-3, 3.84 ERA). All the action will be carried live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Notes: Pecci's last five-hit game came on May 18, 2006, opening night against the Calgary Vipers...no Railcat has ever collected 6 base hits in a game...Mike Rohde reached base and scored in his last three plate appearances, breaking out of a 6-40 slump with two hits, his first multi-hit game since July 5...Eric McNamee gathered three hits in back-to-back games, going 6-11 with 4 RBI, reaching base seven times in 12 plate appearances...Grant Johnson pitched on back-to-back days for just the second time this year out of the bullpen. Johnson was charged with two earned runs and has given up runs in the second game of both back-to-back stints...the RailCats concluded their season-long nine-game road trip with a 5-4 record...Sevier is now 5-7 all-time against Gary and his now lost 4 of his last 5 starts against the RailCats, dating back to mid-2008.

More Info: The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a Professional Minor League Baseball Team serving Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. The RailCats won the Northern League championship in 2005 and 2007 and for each of the last five years, they have been chosen "Best Local Spectator Sport" by Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly. Their 96 game schedule includes 48 home games at beautiful U. S. Steel Yard, an award-winning 6,000 seat state-of-the-art facility located next to the Indiana Toll Road (I-90) with easy access to I-65.

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Northern League Stories from July 29, 2009


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