NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

Haake's Clutch Late Hit Delievers 3-2 RailCats Win

June 21, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - Steve Haake's two-out single scored Mike Massaro with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Gary SouthShore RailCats got solid work from four different pitchers to beat the Schaumburg Flyers 3-2 Sunday afternoon at Alexian Field.

The ‘Cats made a loser out of Cephas Howard (2-1) for the first time this year in the eighth when Massaro started the winning rally by drawing a walk, then moved to third on a single from Eric McNamee. McNamee was thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit, and Howard struck out Jay Pecci to keep Massaro at third with two outs, but that's when Haake stepped in and came through, shooting one off the glove of a diving Jason Colson at first base and into right. Haake's RBI was his team-leading 28th of the season.

Both starting pitchers were very effective Sunday, with Dustin Glant allowing only single runs in the second and third. Haake was again in the midst of the ‘Cats second inning rally, doubling to lead off the inning and scoring on a Cristian Guerrero base hit. Rob Marconi scored the second RailCats run, leading off the third with a single and - after two Glant wild pitches - scoring on a Massaro sacrifice fly. Glant went the first seven innings allowing only the two runs on five hits.

Tom Thornton allowed only one baserunner through the first three innings and pitched into the fifth unscathed before the Flyers touched him for a couple two-out fifth inning runs. Thornton rebounded to pitch a scoreless sixth and left with a no-decision despite a strong effort, allowing two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Edwin Walker (2-0) worked a quick seventh inning to earn the win, and Aaron Cook and Andy Shipman closed it out, with Shipman earning his fifth save.

Haake was the only RailCat with two hits in the game, while Travis Ezi and Jeff Dunbar each collected a pair of base hits for the Flyers. The game was played in only 2:26, making it one of the quickest RailCats games all year.

The RailCats (17-18) stay on the road through the end of the week, taking their show to North Dakota for a three-game series against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (15-16) beginning Tuesday night at 7:02 p.m. Tony Cogan (2-4, 4.21 ERA) will start for the ‘Cats in game one. All the action from Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Notes: The win was the RailCats seventh in their last nine games ... after a shaky start to the season, Thornton is now 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his last five appearances, four starts ... Shipman has not allowed an earned run in his first eight outings with the RailCats ... Haake hit a pair of home runs on Father's Day last season at Alexian Field before Sunday's 2-for-4 effort this year.

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Northern League Stories from June 21, 2009


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