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AA Gary SouthShore Railcats

Comeback Effort Comes up Short as RailCats Drop 7-4 Contest

August 30, 2011 - American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - The Tenth Anniversary Season of Gary SouthShore RailCats Baseball will come down to game number 100 following a 7-4 defeat at the hands of the St. Paul Saints at U. S. Steel Yard Monday evening.

With the loss and by virtue of the Wichita Wingnuts 7-6 victory over the El Paso Diablos, the RailCats (54-45) trail the Wingnuts (55-44) by a game in the Central Division and the Saints (55-44) by a game in the Wild Card race. On the bright side, the 'Cats cannot be eliminated from playoff contention if they defeat the Saints Tuesday evening. With a win Tuesday and a Wingnuts victory in El Paso, the RailCats and Saints would play a one game playoff at 6:10 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard Wednesday evening for the American Association Wild Card, and the Wingnuts would take the Central Division crown. However, if the RailCats win and the Wingnuts fall to El Paso, the RailCats will travel to Wichita for a one-game playoff Wednesday at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium to determine the Central Division Champion, and the Saints would claim the Wild Card.

St. Paul grabbed control of Monday's contest with five runs in the third inning, all with two outs against RailCats starter Trent Lare. After the RailCats lefty quickly retired the first two Saints in the frame, Adam Frost and Aharon Eggleston each singled before Ryan Patterson's three-run homer put St. Paul up 3-0. Back-to-back doubles by Ole Sheldon and Ronnie Bourquin made it 4-0 and Bourquin scored on a Mercado single to give the Saints a 5-0 advantage.

The RailCats scratched across a run in the fifth on a Mike Massaro sacrifice fly following singles by Chris Carrara and Adam Klein only to see the Saints answer with a run of their own in the sixth on an RBI-double by Frost.

The resilient RailCats rallied for three runs in the seventh to make it a 6-4 game. Kyle Haines doubled to center on a ball just out of reach of Saints centerfielder Patterson to start the frame and scored on a Mike Valadez double two batters later. The next RailCats hitter, infielder turned left fielder Chris Carrara, blasted a no-doubt, two-run homer over the First Midwest Bank Catwalk in left field for just his second homer of the season.

Unfortunately, the RailCats would get no closer as the Saints added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on a Patterson infield single against a drawn in infield for a 7-4 lead, and former major leaguer Tyler Walker retired the side in order in the home half of the inning to drop the RailCats to the bring of elimination.

The RailCats look to extend their season with Manager Greg Tagert sending RHP Scott Shaw (11-5, 5.09) to the mound for Game 100 on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. with St. Paul countering with Jacob Schmidt (6-4, 4.88) on Fan Appreciation Night at U. S. Steel Yard. Every fan in the attendance will take home something free with 1,000 fans grabbing a 2011 RailCats Team Photo courtesy of Hoosier Bat Company and Barry's Photography and another 1,000 fans snagging a RailCats 10th Anniversary Picture as part of Tenth Anniversary Tuesday, courtesy of Great Lakes Orthopedics.

While there will be a number of other surprise giveaways too, there will most definitely be Fireworks after the game Tuesday, presented by First Midwest Bank and the Post-Tribune and former RailCats standout and member of the Tenth Anniversary Team, Josh Habel will be on hand to sign autographs and great fans. Excellent seats are still available by calling the 'Cats at 219.882.2255 and check out www.railcatsbaseball.com for all playoff related announcements!

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