Clutch Play from Gonzalez Leads RailCats to Victory
Published on July 19, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
GARY, IN- Jose Gonzalez picked off a key runner and recorded the walk-off hit to bring the Gary SouthShore RailCats (30-27) a 3-2 win over the Laredo Lemurs (32-26).
The Cats' veteran catcher watched Alex Crosby get hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the 9th inning and followed through on the chance to end the game. Gonzalez pulled the first pitch from Luis Pollorena into deep left-center to score Crosby from first base. The game-winning double was the fifth walk-off of the season for the RailCats.
Equally as important as the walk-off was Gonzalez's play in the top of the 9 th inning that helped shut down the Lemurs. Leandro Castro doubled to begin the inning and bluffed stealing third base a couple pitches later. Gonzalez saw the runner lean and threw a bullet of a throw to shortstop Jarred Mederos who applied the tag to retire Castro. The next Laredo batter, Drew Martinez, singled. Gonzalez's throw prevented the Lemurs from having runners on the corners with nobody out. Pitcher Andy Roberts then struck out a batter and picked off Martinez to get out of the inning.
Roberts earned the win throwing 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. Richard Castillo was magnificent in a seven-inning start where he gave up just one run. The Venezuelan allowed only three hits and one walk in the outing. Santiago Rodriguez surrendered one run on two hits and recorded two outs.
Barret Loux was solid on the mound for Laredo. The former first-round pick went 6.1 innings and gave up two runs on six hits. He struck out nine RailCats hitters. Pollorena was charged with the loss for giving up the Gonzalez walk-off.
The Cats broke up a scoreless game in the 6th inning. Cameron Newell started the frame with a single to left field. Then, Portage native Anthony Checky provided the RBI with a triple to right-center field. Two batters later, Checky came home to score on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
Two former-RailCats brought the Lemurs back to tie the game. Drew Martinez hit a RBI double in the 7th inning and JD Pulfer knocked in a run with an 8 th inning single.
The RailCats win took two hours and 41 minutes to complete and was played in front of 2,483 fans at US Steel Yard.
The RailCats continue the homestand with two more games against Laredo and three against Lincoln. The next game is tomorrow at 12:10 and can be heard on 95.9 WEFM and railcatsbaseball.com.
American Association Stories from July 19, 2016
- Blasters Drop Series Opener in Sioux City - Joplin Blasters
- Goldeyes Beat Saints, Move into Tie for Wild Card - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Clutch Play from Gonzalez Leads RailCats to Victory - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Canaries Snap Losing Streak in 5-4 Walk-Off - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Wingnuts Stretch Streak to Five Straight - Wichita Wingnuts
- Wiley Wills T-Bones to Win at Haymarket - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Saints Get One Hit in 7-1 Loss to Goldeyes - St. Paul Saints
- Huge Performance By Explorers Ball Club In Victory Over Joplin - Sioux City Explorers
- Canaries Dismiss Manager Chris Paterson - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Wingnuts Wingnuts Trio Selected to All-Star Game - Wichita Wingnuts
- Reynolds, Bistagne Named to South Division All-Star Team - Texas AirHogs
- South All-Stars Led by Seven from Defending Champion Laredo Lemurs - St. Paul Saints
- 'Dogs Blank Laredo Again to Win Weekend Series - Lincoln Saltdogs
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