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AA Gary SouthShore Railcats

Paz, Perez & Pugh Power Gary to 6-4 Rubber-Game Win over Winnipeg

August 15, 2018 - American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - Five innings of one-hit, one-run ball from Gabe Perez, the first Independent professional home run from Andy Paz and a three-hit night from Tillman Pugh guided the RailCats to a 6-4 rubber-game win over the Winnipeg Goldeyes on the final "Office" Wednesday of the year at U.S. Steel Yard. Gary's victory keeps them in a first-place tie with St. Paul in the North Division after the Saints defeated the Sioux Falls Canaries earlier on Wednesday.

Winnipeg (36-47) took the opening lead for the first time in the series with a run in the top of the third. Jordan Ebert recorded the Goldeyes' first hit with a leadoff double off the left-center wall on a hop before stealing third. Two hitters later, former RailCat Josh Romanski brought home Ebert with an RBI groundout to Andy De Jesus at shortstop.

Gary (46-35) quickly countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to take their first lead of the evening. Cole Fabio drew a five-pitch walk with one out before Paz hit a two-out, two-run home run to left field. The homer also increased Paz's season-high hitting streak to 17 games.

The RailCats took a 3-1 lead with another two-out run in the fourth. Colin Willis extended his career-and-season-high on-base streak to 32 games with a single to right before Pugh recorded his second hit with a single to center, increasing his on-base streak to 28 games. Three batters later, De Jesus reached on a throwing error by Goldeyes shortstop Josh Mazzola, also allowing Willis to score from second on the play.

Gary went in front 5-1 with two more runs in the sixth. Back-to-back singles from Pugh and Wilfredo Gimenez to begin the frame gave the 'Cats runners on first and second. D.K. Carey then advanced both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before De Jesus delivered a two-run single to center, plating both Pugh and Gimenez.

The 'Cats took their biggest lead of the entire series at 6-1 with their fourth two-out out run of the night in the seventh. Paz led off the inning with a single before reaching third on two wild pitches from Goldeyes reliever Edwin Carl. Four hitters later, Gimenez scored Paz with an RBI single to left.

Reggie Abercrombie cut the Gary lead to 6-2 with a solo home run on to fourth avenue with one out in the eighth. The homer was Abercrombie's 14th of the year and his second in as many nights. Winnipeg added two more runs in the top of the ninth and even brought the go-ahead run to the plate. Jorge De Leon retired the first two batters of the inning before allowing a two-out single to Ebert. Gavin Stupienski followed Ebert with an RBI triple to right-center for his first hit of the series before Romanski made it 6-4 with an RBI single to left.

RailCats manager Greg Tagert then grabbed his closer Adam Quintana to record the final out of the game. Quintana allowed a single to the first batter he faced in Abercrombie but struck out Tucker Nathans with the tying run on first to end the game. The save for Quintana was his team-high eighth of the year and his third consecutive.

Perez (5-1) yielded one hit, walked one and hit two batters in the win while Mario Samuel (1) recorded a hold after striking out two in a scoreless top of the seventh in his American Association and Professional baseball debut. Kevin McGovern (4-10) was charged with his second straight loss after allowing five runs (four earned) over six innings. The southpaw allowed nine hits, walked one and struck out nine.

Gary is idle on Thursday before continuing their six-game, seven-day homestand on Friday vs. the Sioux Falls Canaries at 7:10 p.m. RailCats LHP Alex Gunn (7-6, 4.72) makes his league-high 19th start in the series opener while the Canaries have yet to announce their starter.

Friday's game is "Breakfast" Club Night and another Fifth Third Banks Fireworks Friday. We'll have breakfast concession specials throughout the game and jam out to 80s music all night.

Jared Shlensky and Brennan Mense bring you all 100 RailCats game this season on WEFM (95.9 FM) and online at railcatsbaseball.com. Ticket packages for the 2018 Gary SouthShore RailCats season are available online at railcatsbaseball.com and can also be purchased by calling the RailCats ticket line at (219) 882-BALL. The RailCats box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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