Crosby's Grand Slam Lifts RailCats to 14-5 Win
Published on August 21, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
Alex Crosby hit a grand slam and Jarred Mederos collected four hits as the Gary SouthShore RailCats (45-42) beat the Wichita Wingnuts (52-34) 14-5 at US Steel Yard.
The victory completed the sweep of the Wingnuts and made it six straight wins for the RailCats. In addition to extending the season-long win streak, the RailCats set a new season high in runs and margin of victory.
Richard Castillo was solid on the mound for the RailCats and earned his second straight win. The right-hander threw six innings and gave up two runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out four batters.
Todd Kibby was charged with the loss for the Wingnuts after getting knocked around for nine runs (five earned) on seven hits. The big lefty struck out four hitters and walked two.
Wichita started the game hot, but would cool off quickly. Christian Stringer walked in the first at bat of the game and was replaced on the bases by Zak Cox's fielder's choice. Cox scored on a two-out Matt Chavez base hit to give the Wingnuts the first lead.
The RailCats snatched the lead and the momentum after that. Frank Martinez drew a walk to start the second inning. Crosby singled and Jose Gonzalez bunted the runners over one base. Then, Jarred Mederos hit a two-RBI triple to make it 2-1.
The runs continued in the third inning. The RailCats tallied three hits and the Wingnuts committed two errors as Gary SouthShore put four runs on the board. Martinez had the big hit, a bases-loaded double that scored three runs.
Alex Crosby provided the knockout punch in the fourth. Rob Alonso recorded his first professional base hit and Reggie Wilson walked before a Martinez single. The Wingnuts replaced Kibby with reliever Mike Devine with two outs and the bases loaded. Crosby sent the second pitch he saw over the right field fence for a grand slam. The shot made it 10-1. It was the second RailCats' grand slam of the year and Crosby's second home run of the season.
Wichita got a run back in the fifth on two hits to cut the lead to 10-2. The RailCats were right there to respond in the sixth, though. The Cats collected four hits with two outs to put up three more runs. Gonzalez and Mederos each had doubles and John Holland added a RBI single.
The Wingnuts scrapped three more runs over in the eighth off of pitcher Aryton Costa. Brent Clevlen hit a solo homer and two Wingnuts supplied sacrifice flies.
The RailCats closed out the scoring in the eighth. Again, all the production came with two outs. Mederos singled off of reliever Gage Smith. After Mederos moved to second base, Holland hit a ground ball through the middle of the infield to make the score 14-5.
Six RailCats had multi-hit days as the team totaled 11 RBI. Crosby's home run was the first by a RailCat at US Steel Yard since August 5th. His last home run came on June 12th. The game was played in front of 3,291 fans in Gary.
The RailCats enjoy a day off before traveling to Nebraska to play the Lincoln Saltdogs on Tuesday. The RailCats are just 1.5 games out of first place in the Central Division and are in a three-team battle for the division title. First pitch on Tuesday is at 6:35 PM and coverage begins at 6:10 PM on 95.9 WEFM and railcatsbaseball.com.
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