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Fielders lose heartbreaker to RailCats

August 6, 2010 - Northern League (NL)
Lake County Fielders News Release


ZION, IL- The Lake County Fielders (30-40) lost a tough one 4-3 to the Gary SouthShore RailCats (37-38) in ten innings, wasting a spectacular performance by starting pitcher John Brownell.

The Fielders spotted Brownell to an early lead. With two outs in the first inning, Joshua Short singled to left field. Brian McFall then hit one off the left-center field wall for a double. He was thrown out at third trying to stretch the hit into a triple, but not before Short scored with the first run of the ball game.

Lake County added another in the second inning. Cody Strait hit a one-out triple to right field. Kyle Higgins then drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center field.

The score would remain 2-0 until the sixth inning when Short led off with his league-leading 23rd home run of the season. He has now hit six home runs in his last eight games.

Brownell allowed two hits in the first inning. Mike Massaro reached on an infield single and Christian Guerrero hit a two-out double in front of diving center fielder Juan Valdes, who recovered to throw out Massaro trying to score from first on the play, ending the inning.

Brownell then retired the next 15 RailCats batters, taking the two-hit shutout into the seventh inning.

Mike Massaro led off that inning with another infield single on a bunt to the left side. Guerrero reached when he was hit by a pitch and Tanner Townsend delivered a two-out triple to get the RailCats within one at 3-2.

Brownell went seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out four and not walking anyone in one of his best performances of the season.

Marco Gonzalez relieved Brownell and pitched a perfect eighth inning and closer Chris Homer came on to pitch the ninth in a one-run game.

After getting the first two outs, Homer gave up a line drive home run on the first pitch to Guerrero. It was Homer's first blown save of the season in twelve opportunities.

The RailCats strung together a walk and back-to-back singles, including the go-ahead RBI single from Mike Valades, scoring Louis Ott.

Lake County had a chance to win it in the bottom of the tenth, getting the tying run on base with their two All-Stars coming up. But Amos Ramon flew out and Short struck out to end the game.

The Fielders again take on the RailCats in game three of the series Saturday night. Lake County will send Garry Bakker (3-7, 5.66) against Nolan Nicholson (4-3, 4.3.4) at 6:00pm in Zion.

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