Hoorelbeke's Homer Gives Fargo 1-0 Win in 11 Over RailCats
July 7, 2010 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
GARY, Ind. - Northern League home run leader Jesse Hoorelbeke led off the 11th inning with his 15th longball of the year, sending the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to a 1-0 (11 inning) win over the Gary SouthShore RailCats Wednesday afternoon at U. S. Steel Yard, giving the 'Hawks a sweep of the three-game series.
The loss is the RailCats fourth in a row - their longest losing streak of the year - and marked the first time all season the 'Cats have been swept in a series of any length. The RailCats were shutout twice in the three-game set, losing 4-0 Monday, and left 13 men on base (eight in scoring position) in the loss Wednesday. The setback also dropped the 'Cats to .500 for the first time since June 9.
James Baker (1-3) became the fifth RailCats pitcher of the day when he came on to start the 11th and Hoorelbeke greeted him with a long drive over the wall in straightaway left on a 2-2 pitch. Baker later had runners at first and third with one out, but avoided further damage by striking out Kole Zimmerman and getting Jay Cox to fly out to center.
The RailCats did have a chance in the bottom of the 11th, just as they had most of the day Wednesday, but Adam Klein hit into a game-ending 3-6-3 double play with Jeff Beachum on first base. The 'Cats had several other significant threats, including in the bottom of the 10th when Mike Massaro led off with a single and the RailCats worked runners to first and second with two outs. Alex Kent (1-0) got Mike Rohde to ground out to end that threat and Kent pitched a scoreless 11th as well to earn his first professional win.
The best chance all day for the RailCats may have been in the very first inning, when newcomer Brian Kolb doubled in his first professional at bat. Kolb went to third moments later on a passed ball, but Fargo starter Scott Fogelson struck out Massaro and got Cristian Guerrero to ground out to end the inning. The 'Cats mounted another rally in the third, getting runners to first and third with one out but once again failing to push a run across.
Kolb went 2-for-5 in his professional debut and was the only RailCat with two hits. The all-time leading hitter at Wheaton (Ill.) College, Kolb was signed just before the start of Wednesday's game and started the contest at shortstop, batting second in the order. Kolb's double was also the RailCats only extra-base hit as six other hitters rounded out the eight-hit attack.
The loss spoiled another excellent outing from Willie Glen, who gave up just three singles - two on the infield - in seven sparkling innings. Glen walked four and struck out four and has now thrown 16.0 innings this season without allowing a run to the RedHawks. The right-hander fired his second career shutout June 26 in Fargo and lowered his season ERA to 3.38 with Wednesday's start, good for 8th best in the Northern League. Andy Shipman worked two innings of scoreless relief to keep the game 0-0 through 10 innings.
Fogelson was also very sharp for Fargo-Moorhead, going 7.0 innings and scattering seven hits. The left-hander struck out four and walked two, and was followed by scoreless outings from relievers Matt Petrusek, Adam Tollefson and Kent. Hoorelbeke had a third inning infield single and was the only RedHawk with two hits, as the 'Cats out-hit Fargo 8-7.
The RailCats (23-23) will enjoy an off day Thursday before welcoming the league-leading Kansas City T-Bones (26-16) to U. S. Steel Yard to start a three-game series Friday night at 7 p.m. Right-hander Nolan Nicholson (1-1, 7.97 ERA) will make his Steel Yard debut opposite Kansas City ace Andrew Cruse (6-2, 2.04 ERA). The game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.
Friday's game will be another Fireworks Friday, with a thrilling show to follow the contest, sponsored by First Midwest Bank and the Post-Tribune. It's also the RailCats annual Latino Family Night, with The Steel Yard welcoming The Region's Hispanic community with live music, dancers, themed promotions and more. To find out more or to buy tickets, call the RailCats at 219.882.2255 or visit www.railcatsbaseball.com.
Notes: The loss was the first for the RailCats this season in three extra-inning games ... the RailCats have been shutout three times in 2010, each time at the hands of Fargo-Moorhead ... the RailCats have lost seven of their last eight home games and are just 9-13 at The Steel Yard this season. The RailCats were a team-record 34-14 at U. S. Steel Yard in 2009 ... the loss also drops the 'Cats a season-high six games out of first place.
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Northern League Stories from July 7, 2010
- Flyers Sweep Series with RiverHawks - Schaumburg Flyers
- RiverHawks Swept - Rockford RiverHawks
- JackHammers, Fielders Game Postponed - Joliet JackHammers
- Fielders, JackHammers Postponed; Make up Date to be Announced - Lake County Fielders
- Hoorelbeke's Homer Gives Fargo 1-0 Win in 11 Over RailCats - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- T-Bones Take Series, Maintain First-Place Lead - Kansas City Monarchs
- RailCats Sign Record-Setting Rookie Infielder Brian Kolb - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- RiverHawks' O'Sullivan Named Player of the Week - Rockford RiverHawks
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