NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

Cogan Brilliant Again as RailCats Blank Flyers 9-0

Published on July 18, 2009 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - Tony Cogan extended his scoreless streak to 21.0 innings with eight more clean frames Saturday night, and the Gary SouthShore RailCats hit three runs in support to win their fifth straight game, 9-0 over the Schaumburg Flyers in front of 4,146 fans at U. S. Steel Yard.

Cogan (5-5) allowed only four hits Saturday, the same number he allowed Tuesday night when he threw his first career complete game shutout. Cogan did not allow a runner past second for the second start in a row and walked only one. The left-hander had three 1-2-3 innings, struck out four and became the first RailCats starter since Josh Habel to have a scoreless streak of more than 20 innings. Habel set a RailCats record from August 16-29 when he tossed 24.1 scoreless innings in a row spanning four starts.

Cogan's 21.0 inning streak has not only been without a run, but for the most part without so much as a scoring threat. Cogan has allowed only nine hits and three walks over those 21.0 frames and had just one runner reach third - and only four as far as second base - while striking out 15. In three starts since the All-Star Break, Cogan's ERA has dipped from 5.05 to 3.82 with 24.0 innings of one-run, 11-hit baseball.

The RailCats got all the offense they needed against Carmen Pignatiello (4-6) in the first when the ‘Cats tallied four runs against the former Chicago Cubs left-hander. Mike Massaro led off the game with a double and scored when the next batter, Eric McNamee, singled him in. McNamee would score on a wild pitch later in the inning before Cristian Guerrero unloaded on his third home run of the year, a two-run blast off the netting over the wall in left.

Steve Haake picked up his league-leading 47th RBI with a single in the third to make it 5-0 and the RailCats went back to the longball to pad the lad in the sixth. Jay Pecci hit a solo home run - his first of the year - with two outs in the inning and two batters later Jeff Beachum launched a two-run blast to make it 8-0. McNamee picked up a second RBI hit in the seventh to round out the scoring.

The ‘Cats got at least two hits from each of the top four hitters in the order including a 3-for-5 night by McNamee. Eight of the nine RailCats starters had hits and the one who didn't - third baseman Mike Rohde - reached base twice when hit by a pitch. Tony Mansolino had two of Schaumburg's five base hits, all singles.

The RailCats have won five games in a row to match a season high, set earlier this month. The RailCats have won 10-of-11 overall, improved to 12-2 in the month of July and have are now 21-5 in their last 26 games at U. S. Steel Yard. The win guarantees the ‘Cats a sixth straight series victory and was their eighth in a row at home against the Flyers.

The RailCats (32-24) wrap up a seven-game homestand Sunday at 2 p.m. against the Flyers (26-28) on Hawaiian Night when the ‘Cats will give away Beach Towels to the first 1,500 fans from Community Healthcare System. The RailCats will also be wearing special Hawaiian Green jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game, plus it's The Times Family Day, with a discount coupon available in Sunday editions of The Times.

Right-hander Chris Jones (3-1, 3.35 ERA) will start for the RailCats against Schaumburg ace Dustin Glant (5-2, 4.04 ERA). The game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

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Northern League Stories from July 18, 2009


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