Gary SouthShore RailCats Doomed by Seven Run First in 8-6 Loss to Joliet
Published on May 17, 2008 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
The Gary SouthShore RailCats couldn't quite dig all the way out of a seven-run first inning deficit, stranding the winning run on base in the ninth inning of an 8-6 loss to the Joliet Jackhammers Saturday night at a windy and rainy U. S. Steel Yard.
Joliet scored seven times on only four hits in the first, taking advantage of a walk, a hit by pitch and two RailCats errors. Only one of the runs was earned, but Joliet pushed across three runs with two outs and got RBI hits from Nick Prosise and Steve Garrabrants. RailCats starter Kai Tuomi (0-1) faced 11 batters and threw 41 pitches in the first inning, but settled down to survive for five, sparing a well-used RailCats bullpen.
The RailCats comeback began with a three-run bottom of the first. With one out, Eric McNamee singled, went to second on a Jay Pecci walk and to third on a Steve Haake base hit. After Cristian Guerrero struck out with the bases loaded, Tanner Townsend sent a looping fly ball into the gap in right-center that fell for a hit, scoring two, and Mike Rohde followed with an RBI single to right.
Rohde had his best night as a RailCat Saturday, going 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. Townsend also enjoyed a three-hit game, as the RailCats banged out a season-high 14 hits but left 13 runners on base for the second straight night.
Joliet added a run in the third off Tuomi, and the score remained 8-3 into the eighth. That's when Rohde drew a walk to start the inning off Kevin Altman before Rob Marconi blasted a long triple deep into the gap in left-center, the deepest part of the ballpark. Marconi came in to score the fifth RailCats run when John McCarthy - who drew his first start of the season Saturday - singled.
The RailCats went back to work in the bottom of the ninth against Drew Shetrone who was on in search of his second save in three nights. Shetrone struck out Haake to start the inning but then immediately got into trouble, surrendering a ringing double down the line in left to Guerrero and a single to right off the bat of Townsend. With runners on the corners and one out, Rohde came up and drilled a 2-1 pitch into the left-center gap to plate Guerrero with the sixth run and move the tying run into scoring position.
Shetrone then got pinch-hitter Mike Reese to foul out for the second out before walking Marconi, bringing McCarthy up with the winning run on first base. Marconi worked ahead in the count and hit a hard ground ball back up the middle, but Shetrone snared the ball with a swipe of his glove and threw out McCarthy to end the game.
Aaron Trolia (1-0) danced in and out of trouble to earn the win for Joliet (2-1), allowing nine hits and three earned runs in his five innings. Brad Voyles and Brandon Higelin each had two-inning scoreless relief stints for the RailCats.
The RailCats (1-2) send left-hander Jeremy Plexico (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound Sunday in the 2:00 p.m. series finale against Joliet's David Moraga (0-0, 0.00 ERA). The game will be broadcast live on WEFM, 95.9 FM, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.
Northern League Stories from May 17, 2008
- Rain, Bats Hinder Flyers In Loss - Schaumburg Flyers
- Gary SouthShore RailCats Doomed by Seven Run First in 8-6 Loss to Joliet - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Offensive Outburst Supports Michael's Gem - Kansas City Monarchs
- First things first! JackHammers score seven in the first to win 8-6 at Gary - Joliet JackHammers
- Miracle League of Joliet opens at home of JackHammers - Joliet JackHammers
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