AA Gary SouthShore Railcats

Mitchell's Bat, Quijano's Arm Lead RailCats to Win

June 14, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


FARGO, N.D. - Zac Mitchell was 2-for-4 with three RBI and Alain Quijano was solid on the mound to lead Gary to a 6-4 win over Fargo-Moorhead in the series opener on Friday night. The RailCats (13-12) remain in third place in the Central, three and a half back of first-place Wichita.

After neither team scored in the first three frames, the RailCats broke through in the fourth inning against Fargo-Moorhead starter Paul Burnside. Cristian Guerrero led off with a single and Danny Pulfer and Drew Martinez drew back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases. Mitchell drove a clutch two-run single to center to give the RailCats the lead. Chase Tucker followed with a run-scoring single to left on the next pitch to make it 3-0 and knock RedHawks' starter Paul Burnside (1-4) out of the game.

With two out in the fifth, Craig Maddox hit his second home run in as many games, a solo shot over the wall in left-center to extend the lead to 4-0. Maddox and Guerrero each have two home runs this season to account for all four RailCats round-trippers.

Quijano held the RedHawks bats quiet until the seventh. Tim Alberts hit a leadoff double, Keith Brachold followed with a single and C.J. Retherford hit a run-scoring single to left to cut the lead to 4-1. Quijano walked Ronnie Bourquin to load the bases before being removed from the game.

Billy Spottiswood, signed earlier in the day, came on in relief. He got Todd Jennings to ground out, which brought home a run and cut the lead to 4-2. The next batter, Buddy Sonsnoskie grounded to first and Steve Liddle threw home where Maddox took a big hit from Retherford but hung on for the second out. Penprase blooped a two-out single to right to pull the RedHawks within one. Mitch Einertson followed with a deep fly to center Martinez tracked it down to keep the RailCats in front.

Quijano (4-2) was charged with three runs on six hits in six-plus innings. He walked three and struck out four in his third quality start of the season.

Gary answered swiftly in the top of the eighth. Maddox walked and Steve Liddle split the gap in right-center with a double to score Maddox. Mitchell again delivered with two outs, flaring a single to left to score Liddle and push the lead to three at 6-3. Five of the RailCats six runs scored with two outs.

Nic Jackson led off the eighth inning with a solo homer to right to bring Fargo to within 6-4, but Marco Gonzalez came on to retire the next three hitters to end the inning. Clay Zavada pitched around a one-out walk in the ninth for his second save of the season.

Game two of the series is on Saturday night at 6 p.m. Ari Ronick (3-2, 3.64) will pitch for Gary. The radio broadcast can be heard on 89.1 FM The Lakeshore and www.railcatsbaseball.com.

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American Association Stories from June 14, 2013


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