Massaro Double Caps Another Late RailCats Comeback Win
July 17, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
GARY, Ind. - Mike Massaro hit a game-winning, two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to send the Gary SouthShore RailCats to a 3-2 win over the Schaumburg Flyers in front of 5,423 fans Friday night at U. S. Steel Yard, the RailCats fourth win in a row.
For the second night in a row the RailCats entered the bottom of the eighth trailing, and for the second night in a row they finished the inning with the lead. With two outs and no one on, Brett Wallace and Rob Marconi hit back-to-back singles off Jeff Dunbar (1-1) to bring Flyers closer Cephas Howard out of the bullpen to face Massaro. On the 1-1 pitch, Massaro hit a line drive to left that just got past a leaping John Toussas to score both runs and give the âCats a 3-2 lead.
Eddie De la Cruz (4-0) finished an adventurous ninth inning, getting a double play grounder after a leadoff single, then striking out Toussas with another runner on first to end the game. De la Cruz struck out Craig Maddox to end the eighth inning and qualify for the victory.
Massaro had all three RBI for the RailCats, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. The Colorado native put the RailCats in front in the third inning when he plated Wallace from third with a ground ball single. Massaro then doubled to lead off the seventh but was stranded at third base, one of 12 runners the âCats left on in the game, including nine over the last four innings.
Garret Holleran made his second start for the RailCats and was much improved, allowing only a fifth inning TJ Wilson RBI double in six innings of work. Holleran struck out five and walked only one, allowing just five hits and throwing 60-of-88 pitches in the strike zone. The Flyers took the 2-1 lead on a bazaar play in the seventh when with Felix Jose on second and one out, Tony Mansolino grounded to second base and was thrown out. After the out, RailCats first baseman Steve Haake lost control of the ball on an attempted throw towards the middle of the infield and the ball went into center, allowing Jose to score the go-ahead run.
Schaumburg starter Tom Lyons also had a good night, allowing six hits and one earned run in 5.0 innings in just his fourth start of the season. Lyons did not allow a hit until Wallace's third inning double and pitched out of danger in the fourth and fifth to keep the game tied.
Wallace finished 2-for-4 and Marconi went 2-for-3 to join Massaro with multi-hit days. The âCats out-hit Schaumburg 11-6 and also drew five walks in the game. Six different Flyers had hits, with Jose scoring both Schaumburg runs.
The RailCats (31-24) and Flyers (26-27) continue their three-game series Saturday at 6 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard. It's Kids Bat Giveaway Night sponsored by Pinnacle Hospital and the Post-Tribune. The first 1,000 kids - age 12 and under - will get a free RailCats Hoosier Bat, with gates opening at 5 p.m.
The âCats will send left-hander Tony Cogan (4-5, 4.20 ERA) will make his start since firing the first complete game shutout of his career Tuesday night against Flyers left-hander Carmen Pignatiello (4-5, 5.72 ERA). The game will be broadcast live on 89.1 FM, The Lakeshore, and online at www.railcatsbaseball.com.
Notes: The RailCats have won 11-of-13 games in the month of July and 14 of their last 17 games overall ... the âCats four-game winning streak is their second in the last 10 games ... six of the RailCats 11 wins in July have come in their last at bat. The RailCats have 11 total last at bat wins this year ... the win pushes the RailCats a season-high seven games over .500 ... the âCats improved to 5-1 against Schaumburg this season and 21-9 overall at U. S. Steel Yard ... the crowd of 5,423 was the second-largest at the Steel Yard this summer.
Northern League Stories from July 17, 2009
- RedHawks Edge Goldeyes 12-11 - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- T-Bones Drop Series Opener to Joliet - Kansas City Monarchs
- Massaro Double Caps Another Late RailCats Comeback Win - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Barrows Burries the T-Bones - Joliet JackHammers
- Flyers Lose Late - Schaumburg Flyers
- RailCats & Aramark Offering Free Hot Dogs, Other Deals - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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