Gonzalez and Roberts Lead the RailCats to Their Third Win in a Row
August 15, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
Sioux Falls, SD - The Gary South Shore RailCats playing their best back to back to back ball games since late June sent their winning streak to three games beating the Sioux Falls Canaries 2-1 Saturday night at Sioux Falls Stadium.
The last time the Gary South Shore RailCats won three in a row was from June 28- July 1 in the early part of the season. The combination of improving offense, solid defense and another good pitching performance were present once again as the RailCats guaranteed a series win.
The RailCats took the early lead for the third game in a row when they grabbed a pair of runs off of Canaries starter Joe Bircher in the top of the first. JD Pulfer walked to start the inning and wild pitch moved him to second. Drew Martinez then grounded to second to move Pulfer to third. Jon Jones drove in Pulfer with a single up the middle past a drawn in infield and it was 1-0.
Jaime Del Valle then executed a perfect hit and run with Jones at first to put runners at the corners and one out. Del Valle would add another hit later in the game for his third multi hit game in as many nights. Jose Sermo then greeted Bircher with a double to left center to score Jones to make it 2-1, but Del Valle was thrown out at the plate for out number two. Bircher would escape any more damage as he retired Brennan Metzger for out number three.
Sioux Falls would get their only run on a solo home run from David Bergin in the home half of the second to cut the lead to 2-1 off of Fernando Gonzalez. The rookie righty settled down and retired nine in a row in the third, fourth and part of the fifth. Gonzalez was done after five giving up one run on six hits with only one walk and three strike outs.
Left hander Andy Roberts came in for the RailCats in the sixth and worked two 1-2-3 innings. In the eighth with a runner at first and second the Canaries bounced into an interference double play to take the two teams to the ninth.
In the ninth Sioux Falls got the leadoff man aboard in the form of a single David Bergin. The Canaries moved Bergin to second on a sacrifice bunt. Roberts then got Richard Stock to fly to center and then with Angel Chavez batting and the tying run at second the ball off the bat of Chavez at short hit Bergin running to end the game.
Roberts would go four innings to pick up his first save, while Gonzalez (2-1) got the win. Sioux Falls starter Bircher (3-4) was charged with the loss. The RailCats will wrap up the series and look to sweep the Canaries and close out the six game road trip Sunday afternoon at 2:05pm. The RailCats will send LHP Chuck Fontana (3-4, 3.40) to face RHP Shawn Blackwell (2-8, 4.04). The game can be heard on 95.9 WEFM and online at RailCatsBaseball.com.
Following the Sunday finale, Gary South Shore will head home to face the Joplin Blasters in the visitors first ever trip to US Steel Yard for a three game set. That series will also include the completion of a suspended game from August 5th that began in Joplin and will be completed August 18th at 5:00pm prior to the regular series opener at 7:10pm.
American Association Stories from August 15, 2015
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- T-Bones Can't Escape Big Inning in Sioux City - Kansas City Monarchs
- Kjeldgaard Goes 5 For 5 With Victory Over Kansas City - Sioux City Explorers
- Gonzalez and Roberts Lead the RailCats to Their Third Win in a Row - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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- Goldeyes Drop Three in a Row - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Alexander Goes the Distance, Staves off Fish 5-3 - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- American Association Results - AA
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- Wingnuts Sharp in All Three Facets, Knock off Laredo - Wichita Wingnuts
- Blasters Bounce St. Paul to End Losing Streak - Joplin Blasters
- Rosario and Del Valle Pace RailCats to a 6-2 Win - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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