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NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

Flyers Score Three in Ninth to Stun RailCats 5-3

August 25, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - Victor Ferrante hit a go-ahead two-run home run to start a three-run ninth inning as the Schaumburg Flyers came from behind to knock off the Gary SouthShore RailCats 5-3 Tuesday night at U. S. Steel Yard in the opener of a seven-game homestand.

With the RailCats leading 3-2, closer Andy Shipman (4-4) was summoned for the third straight game and found trouble early when Travis Brown reached on a Jay Pecci throwing error. Brown was sacrificed to second to bring up Ferrante, who had been 0-for-4 in the game. But the Schaumburg rightfielder changed all that with a laser to center that went into the Center Field Party Deck for his 18th homer of the year, giving the Flyers a 4-3 lead. Schaumburg added another run on a Lyndon Poole double later in the inning.

Jeff Beachum and Mike Rohde each singled to start a potential rally for the RailCats in the bottom of the ninth, but Flyers closer Jason Richardson struck out the next three hitters to preserve the victory and earn his 10th save. Cephas Howard (4-1), who had allowed the go-ahead run in the seventh, pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win for Schaumburg.

Early in the game, both teams had chances to post big innings but managed to scratch through only single runs. The 'Cats got on the board in the second when Anthony Esquer collected the third of three straight two-out singles to score Rohde from third. The Flyers answered with a run in the top of the third, only to have the RailCats respond in the bottom of the inning when Cristain Guerrero legged out a potential inning ending double play ball to score Pecci, who had doubled.

Grant Johnson made his first start for the RailCats since June 30 and danced his way out of danger all night to leave after five innings with the RailCats in front. Johnson allowed five hits and four walks in his five innings of work, getting help from his defense as both Guerrero and Rob Marconi threw out Flyers from the outfield.

Schaumburg tied the score in the top of the seventh on a two-out Richard Mercado single, only to once again see the 'Cats strike right back. Rohde reached on a bunt hit to start the 'Cats seventh, went to second on a sacrifice, stole third and scored on another Esquer RBI base hit.

The RailCats finished with 10 hits in the game, led by a 3-for-4 night out of Rohde. Esquer's two hits marked the only other multi-hit game for a RailCats player. Schaumburg, meanwhile, finished with 13 hits and had five players notch two hits each. The Flyers also drew six walks against RailCats pitching and left 12 on base in the win.

Carmen Pignatiello started for the Flyers and, like his counterpart Johnson, pitched in and out of trouble to post a pretty solid five innings. The former Chicago Cubs left-hander allowed two earned runs on six hits but did not walk a batter.

The RailCats (53-37) and Flyers (40-50) continue their three-game series Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard. It's Hockey Night, with the 'Cats giving away Chicago Blackhawks baseball bats to the first 1,500 fans of all ages, courtesy Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. Blackhawks winger Ben Eager will also be on hand signing autographs for an hour along with one a surprise former Blackhawks star. Tickets are still available by calling 219.882.2255, logging on to www.railcatsbaseball.com or visiting the U. S. Steel Yard Box Office after 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Left-hander Tom Thornton (8-5, 5.93 ERA) will start Wednesday's game for the RailCats against Schaumburg right-hander Dustin Glant (6-8, 5.06 ERA). The game, as always, will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Notes: Even with the loss, the RailCats remain a half-game ahead of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for first place in the Northern League thanks to Fargo's 5-2 loss to Kansas City ... the win was the Flyers first at U. S. Steel Yard since June 22, 2008, snapping a 13-game losing streak ... the loss was the RailCats second straight at U. S. Steel Yard, the first time they have lost back-to-back home games since May 22-23.

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